A couple of mental errors late in the game caused Atlético Madrid dearly in the Champions League final last weekend against Real Madrid.

The Spanish champions were a couple of minutes away from a first Champions League title when a headed equaliser from Sergio Ramos three minutes into stoppage time from Luka Modric corner changed the game, sending it to extra time before Real Madrid eventually ran out 4-1 winners.

Atlético gave the corner away and to not have anybody in front of the corner kick would have made them go over the top rather than drive it in. Then they didn’t have anyone on the post where someone on the line could have saved it. It would have been a fantastic season for them if they had been able to hang on and pull off the victory, but in the end Real’s experience provided vital as they scored three times in the last ten minutes to win their tenth European Cup. Sometimes football can be cruel, but I’m sure Atlético will learn from that experience.

I would have liked to see them win their first title, but it wasn’t to be; the gods were against them. You have to take your hat off to Carlo Ancelotti, the Real coach. He kept them going, never lost his cool and is a real level-headed fella. He deserved it in the end.

Speaking of managers, Mauricio Pochettino has left Southampton after leading them to their highest Premier League finish of eighth to become the new Tottenham head coach. Pochettino has taken three of his coaches with him to White Hart Lane and the speculation now in the English media is that the team that gained a reputation with their exciting brand of football last season may also lose some of their exciting young players.

Pochettino will be a great signing for Tottenham. He will make them better players if you look at what he did at Southampton with a lot of young players. They have an impressive youth academy and have turned out some good players and he has proven he is a good coach. He did a wonderful job at Southampton and I’m sure he will do a similar job at Spurs.

No doubt Southampton could lose some players with the manager gone. Players get attached to managers and when they leave, it is gut-wrenching sometimes.

Striker Ricky Lambert could be the first to go as he is due for a physical with Liverpool this morning after the clubs reportedly agreed a fee for the player who was in Liverpool’s academy but was released as a 15-year-old. He has since advanced through the divisions before becoming a Premier League and England player. At 32 and nearing the peak of his career, the move could be a good one, going to the club he supported as a youngster.

He proved he can play: he’s got a good touch and he could add something different to the attack of Suárez, Sturridge and Sterling.

Arsenal fans will be relieved to hear that Arsène Wenger has signed a new three-year deal. It is nice to see when so many people are at times drawn by the money, but he has proven to be loyal to Arsenal. He has done a great job at Arsenal, who ended nine years without a trophy by winning the FA Cup last month.