What most stuck with Harry Winks from one of the greatest nights of his career so far was his pre-match message from his manager. In the dressing room at the Santiago Bernabeu, before going out to play in front of 76,589 people, Mauricio Pochettino pulled Winks to one side and delivered a simple message: “Play your natural game.”

Winks has only ever started five Premier League games and this was just his fourth in the Champions League. He made his England debut this month but he is still a stranger to the big-time. Which is why it was such an impressive show of trust from Pochettino to tell him to play how he felt comfortable at Real Madrid. Many 21-year-olds are still finding their voices as footballers and need plenty of careful instruction. But Winks is more mature than plenty of players older than him, and takes everything in his stride. Which is why Pochettino trusts him so much and why he will surely be part of the England squad at the World Cup in Russia next year too.

“When the manager tells me I’m playing, and to play my natural game, it obviously gives me massive confidence individually,” Winks said. “When I go out onto the pitch, I feel I have to repay the manager’s faith in me, as well as that of the players and staff.”

Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Keylor Navas - 7 Made a couple of superb saves from Harry Kane. One in each half Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Achraf Hakimi - 7 Eighteen-year-old full-back almost claimed an opening-goal assist but his cross was headed against the post by Ronaldo early on Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Sergio Ramos - 6 Didn’t have much to do in truth. Marshalled Kane and Llorente well Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Raphael Varane - 6 Put through his own net in the first half but other than that wasn’t overly troubled on the night Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Marcelo - 6 Usually so much more effective going forward but wasn’t at his best tonight Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Casemiro - 6 Provided a perfect cross from which Benzema should’ve scored in the second half but the Frenchman was thwarted by Lloris Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Luka Modric - 6 Technically sublime but didn’t dictate the game as we are so accustomed to seeing him do Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Toni Kroos - 6 Similar to Modric. Didn’t bring his A game Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Isco - 6 Has become a key player for Madrid over the last 18 months but was ineffective tonight Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Karim Benzema - 5 Spurned a routine chance to open the scoring after Ronaldo’s early effort had hit the post and also saw his header saved from just four yards out just after half-time Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Cristiano Ronaldo - 7 Harshly booked after a coming together with Jan Vertonghen but brushed himself off to equalise from the spot a short while later. Was Madrid’s most dangerous attacker Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Hugo Lloris - 7 Made an outstanding save to deny Karim Benzema from point-blank range early in the second half Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Serge Aurier - 6 Gave away a penalty with a challenge that really didn’t need to be made but was solid otherwise and got forward well Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Toby Alderweireld - 6 A born leader and was key to Spurs’ supreme defensive performance Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Davison Sanchez -7 Didn’t put a foot wrong at the back against a frightening front three Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Jan Vertonghen - 6 Didn’t cover himself in glory in first-half altercation with Ronaldo but played well at left-back Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Moussa Sissoko -7 Perhaps his best performance since moving to Tottenham over a year ago. Full of energy and his driving runs were a big part of Spurs’ attacking threat Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Eric Dier - 6 Anchored the midfield well but was barely involved in any other capacity Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Harry Winks - 7 Neat and tidy in the centre of midfield. Didn’t look out of place against the best midfield on the planet Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Christian Eriksen -6 Gave the ball away more often than usual and spurned a good opportunity to give Tottenham the lead when he attempted to beat Navas at his near post Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Fernando Llorente - 7 Was a surprise inclusion but proved to be a good option when Spurs opted for route one and linked up nicely with Kane Real Madrid vs Tottenham player ratings Harry Kane - 7 Played a big part in Tottenham’s opener but spurned a one-on-one to win it in the second half

Winks’ rise at Tottenham into the first team – and into the England set-up – is the story of the power of Pochettino’s trust. Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier all had some first team experience, at Spurs or elsewhere, before Pochettino picked them. But Winks is younger than any of them and had no senior experience before Pochettino took over. His whole senior career has been with him.

“He instils confidence in all of us, especially at a young age,” Winks explained. “That it is important to play free, to enjoy yourself, which he always reiterates. Just to go out there and play and enjoy it. He has this natural demeanour about him, so you want to do well for him. He’s a fantastic manager and a great person. When you step on the field, you always want to do well for him as well.”

Pochettino will have been delighted with how his young team – just not Kane, Alli, Dier and Winks but Davinson Sanchez too – coped with the pressure of playing at the Bernabeu. They never looked overwhelmed and they could even have won the game at the end. It was a testament to years of development and progress at Spurs. It also pointed to the fact that this team may have taken the final mental step, the one Pochettino was demanding from them, without having to win a trophy first, as many observers said they had to.