Mauricio Pochettino hailed Christian Eriksen after the Dane’s stunning late winner for Spurs broke Brighton's resistance.
And the Tottenham boss admitted that the club are still hoping to persuade the playmaker to stay this summer.
Eriksen bagged an 88th minute winner to hand Spurs a 1-0 win over Chris Hughton’s side on Tuesday night and put them within touching distance of a top four finish.
But the Dane is entering the final year of his contract, with Real Madrid interested in taking him to the Spanish capital this summer.
Talks have thus far been deadlocked, and if no new contract is forthcoming in the next six weeks, then Spurs face making a decision over selling the ex-Ajax star - or waiting for him to potentially run down his deal and walk out for nothing.
How Tottenham's win over Brighton has affected the Premier League top-four race
Asked post-game on Eriksen’s contract situation, Pochettino said: "We are open to talk. The end of the season is so close. We must focus on trying to achieve the things that we want.
“It’s a very special situation. Christian is a special person and we’re all different.
"Timing for him and the club and agreeing something are maybe different to other players.
"Christian and us are so close and it’s not long until the end of the season now and it’s about being focused on the end of the season.
"I hope and I wish Christian can be with us in the future.”
Christian Eriksen breaks Brighton hearts as Tottenham take huge step towards top four finish
Spurs win ensures that they are sitting pretty in third, three points clear of Chelsea and four ahead of Arsenal - although the sixth-place Gunners do have a game in hand.
“He has amazing quality," continued Pochettino on Eriksen. "An unbelievable shot with left and right. Of course, mentality as well, but Christian can shoot and can score.
“It is in our hands to be in the top four. If we win our games for sure we are going to be third. We have to focus on ourselves and not the other results.”
