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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/apr/05/burnley-v-tottenham-hotspur-premier-league-live
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| Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – live! | Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.49pm BST14:49 | |
| 61 mins: Half a chance for Burnley! Well, 20% of a chance. Yet another right-wing cross, and Vokes sprints to the near-post to reach it! He doesn’t, really, but Chiriches, just behind him, is so surprised about it that the ball could have gone anywhere after it hit him! It went to Vorm, though. | |
| 2.47pm BST14:47 | |
| 59 mins: Rose bursts into the penalty area and then dives theatrically over nothing very much. The referee appears to have left his notebook at home today. | |
| 2.47pm BST14:47 | |
| 59 mins: Burnley just won a corner! Yes they did! It was a cross from the right that might just have looped into the net had Vorm not touched it over the bar. Anyway, the corner’s cleared. Anyway, have an arty photo of Harry Kane: | |
| 2.45pm BST14:45 | |
| 56 mins: Vokes and Dier compete for a header, the Burnley player levering himself upwards with elbows flaying, one of them into Dier’s head. The Spurs player went down and stayed down, but now seems fine. | |
| 2.43pm BST14:43 | |
| 55 mins: I’m really trying to find interesting moments of play to tell you about, honestly I am. | |
| 2.40pm BST14:40 | |
| 52 mins: Chiriches is now playing at right-back for Spurs, with Davies on the left of the two centre-backs and Rose still at left-back. | |
| 2.37pm BST14:37 | |
| 49 mins: The first attack of the half comes from Tottenham, and brings yet another shot from range (blocked) before Kane wanders offside. | |
| 2.35pm BST14:35 | |
| 47 mins: Now Walker is going off, and Ben Davies will replace him. | |
| 2.34pm BST14:34 | |
| Peeeeeeep! | |
| 46 mins: Burnley restart, Kyle Walker being considered fit enough to start the second half even though he’s still limping badly. | |
| 2.33pm BST14:33 | |
| The second half is imminent. While not being awful, there have been periods when this has wandered distressingly close to the neighbourhood of awful, the outer suburbs of terrible. It will surely improve from here. Won’t it? Won’t it? | |
| 2.30pm BST14:30 | |
| “Watching Burnley’s endeavour and hearing the crowd’s appreciation of it I wonder if England could make a success of a team made up of non-fancy Dan players and instead pick tryers, tacklers, and the highly committed like Boyd or West Ham’s Nolan,” proposes Ian Copestake. “Any others?” There’d be no end of applicants, I think, a few of them already in the squad. For a start, Rooney would qualify, wouldn’t he? | |
| 6 - All six of Tottenham's shots in the first half against Burnley were from outside the box. Distant. | |
| 2.19pm BST14:19 | |
| Half-time: Burnley 0-0 Tottenham | |
| 45+3 mins: Peeeeep! It is half time, the first half having been, to put it bluntly, a bit bobbins. Burnley had the game’s only proper good chance, and Ings sent it straight at the goalkeeper. | |
| Updated at 2.22pm BST | |
| 2.17pm BST14:17 | |
| 45+2 mins: We’re into the second of one minute of stoppage time here. We’ve spent the entirety of it so far waiting for Walker to get up – he took a big swing at a ball that Trippier was also running in to contest, kicked the Burnley man in the thigh and seems to have come out of it badly. | |
| 2.15pm BST14:15 | |
| 45 mins: Save! Ings gets the ball 25 yards out and tries to curl it across goal and into the top corner. It was a fine effort as well, but Vorm anticipated it and tipped wide! | |
| Updated at 2.37pm BST | |
| 2.13pm BST14:13 | 2.13pm BST14:13 |
| 43 mins: Boyd kicks the ball into Rose’s jaw from no distance at all. The Spurs defender seems entirely unbothered, but it looked painful. | 43 mins: Boyd kicks the ball into Rose’s jaw from no distance at all. The Spurs defender seems entirely unbothered, but it looked painful. |
| 2.11pm BST14:11 | 2.11pm BST14:11 |
| 41 mins: Nice attack from Burnley, who benefit from some half-hearted defending to win a right-wing cross and work it to Boyd, on the edge of the area, whose shot is just wide. | 41 mins: Nice attack from Burnley, who benefit from some half-hearted defending to win a right-wing cross and work it to Boyd, on the edge of the area, whose shot is just wide. |
| Updated at 2.11pm BST | Updated at 2.11pm BST |
| 2.09pm BST14:09 | 2.09pm BST14:09 |
| 39 mins: Walker’s overhit cross is put out of play by Trippier, and Spurs thus have a corner, their second of the match. It’s played short to Mason, who passed back to Eriksen, whose shot is saved. | 39 mins: Walker’s overhit cross is put out of play by Trippier, and Spurs thus have a corner, their second of the match. It’s played short to Mason, who passed back to Eriksen, whose shot is saved. |
| 2.06pm BST14:06 | 2.06pm BST14:06 |
| 36 mins: Kane has some space at last, but sadly he’s had to retreat 40 yards from goal to locate it. He turns, runs forward 10 yards and then skews a low shot wide. | 36 mins: Kane has some space at last, but sadly he’s had to retreat 40 yards from goal to locate it. He turns, runs forward 10 yards and then skews a low shot wide. |
| Updated at 2.20pm BST | |
| 2.04pm BST14:04 | 2.04pm BST14:04 |
| 34 mins: Eriksen carries the ball 60 yards before winning a corner. At the moment this is anyone’s game (except, perhaps, the neutral’s). | 34 mins: Eriksen carries the ball 60 yards before winning a corner. At the moment this is anyone’s game (except, perhaps, the neutral’s). |
| 2.02pm BST14:02 | 2.02pm BST14:02 |
| 32 mins: Burnley have a free-kick on the right; Trippier crosses excellently as usual, and Vokes heads high. | 32 mins: Burnley have a free-kick on the right; Trippier crosses excellently as usual, and Vokes heads high. |
| 2.01pm BST14:01 | 2.01pm BST14:01 |
| 30 mins: Burnley play the ball down the right, and Chiriches blocks Boyd as he tries to keep it in. Both players go down in a penalty-area heap, but the referee thinks there’s nothing in it. And there wasn’t much, but I think the ball was far enough from Chiriches for you to argue that it wasn’t under his control when he impeded his rival. | 30 mins: Burnley play the ball down the right, and Chiriches blocks Boyd as he tries to keep it in. Both players go down in a penalty-area heap, but the referee thinks there’s nothing in it. And there wasn’t much, but I think the ball was far enough from Chiriches for you to argue that it wasn’t under his control when he impeded his rival. |
| Updated at 2.16pm BST | |
| 1.58pm BST13:58 | 1.58pm BST13:58 |
| 28 mins: About 40 seconds later, Walker having won the ball and then run forward to collect a return pass from Kane, from his eventual pass the very same Mason is offside. | 28 mins: About 40 seconds later, Walker having won the ball and then run forward to collect a return pass from Kane, from his eventual pass the very same Mason is offside. |
| 1.57pm BST13:57 | 1.57pm BST13:57 |
| 27 mins: Ings does well on the right, turns and passes to Boyd, bursting into the box. He lets the ball roll across him, and then dithers long enough for Mason to dispossess. A good opportunity for Burnley, that. | 27 mins: Ings does well on the right, turns and passes to Boyd, bursting into the box. He lets the ball roll across him, and then dithers long enough for Mason to dispossess. A good opportunity for Burnley, that. |
| Updated at 2.05pm BST | Updated at 2.05pm BST |
| 1.55pm BST13:55 | 1.55pm BST13:55 |
| 25 mins: Spurs attack down the right, work the ball to Eriksen just outside the penalty area, who lays it back to Mason, who shoots wide. | 25 mins: Spurs attack down the right, work the ball to Eriksen just outside the penalty area, who lays it back to Mason, who shoots wide. |
| 1.52pm BST13:52 | 1.52pm BST13:52 |
| 22 mins: Harry Kane gives away a throw-in, the first real evidence that the much-lauded in-form hitman is actually on the pitch. | 22 mins: Harry Kane gives away a throw-in, the first real evidence that the much-lauded in-form hitman is actually on the pitch. |
| 1.51pm BST13:51 | 1.51pm BST13:51 |
| 21 mins: Bentaleb trips Jones on the left, and could very easily have been booked. He isn’t, and the free-kick is sent beyond the far post to Barnes, who volleys back into the mixer, from whence it emerges at a Tottenham foot, after ricocheting around a bit. | 21 mins: Bentaleb trips Jones on the left, and could very easily have been booked. He isn’t, and the free-kick is sent beyond the far post to Barnes, who volleys back into the mixer, from whence it emerges at a Tottenham foot, after ricocheting around a bit. |
| 1.50pm BST13:50 | 1.50pm BST13:50 |
| 19 mins: Shackell crosses from deep on the left, and Vokes heads it straight up in the air. He and the defence are trotting upfield before the ball returns to earth, Vorm underneath it, but being the only human in the penalty area doesn’t stop him from screaming “KEEPER’S!!!”, just to be on the safe side. | 19 mins: Shackell crosses from deep on the left, and Vokes heads it straight up in the air. He and the defence are trotting upfield before the ball returns to earth, Vorm underneath it, but being the only human in the penalty area doesn’t stop him from screaming “KEEPER’S!!!”, just to be on the safe side. |
| 1.48pm BST13:48 | 1.48pm BST13:48 |
| 18 mins: Trippier crosses from the right, and Kyle Walker nods it away just as it seemed destined to dip onto the head of a claret-shirted chap just beyond the back stick. | 18 mins: Trippier crosses from the right, and Kyle Walker nods it away just as it seemed destined to dip onto the head of a claret-shirted chap just beyond the back stick. |
| 1.45pm BST13:45 | 1.45pm BST13:45 |
| 16 mins: Another Chadli shot, this time from just outside the penalty area, hit across goal. It’s hard and low, and though there’s no way Heaton should have let it past him, he did well to gather it. | 16 mins: Another Chadli shot, this time from just outside the penalty area, hit across goal. It’s hard and low, and though there’s no way Heaton should have let it past him, he did well to gather it. |
| 1.44pm BST13:44 | 1.44pm BST13:44 |
| 14 mins: Chadli’s long-range shot is held by Heaton, Tottenham having spent a couple of minutes trying to work a way past Burnley’s two banks of four before giving up and just wellying it. | 14 mins: Chadli’s long-range shot is held by Heaton, Tottenham having spent a couple of minutes trying to work a way past Burnley’s two banks of four before giving up and just wellying it. |
| Updated at 2.08pm BST | Updated at 2.08pm BST |
| 1.41pm BST13:41 | 1.41pm BST13:41 |
| 10 mins: Burnley keep hitting the ball early and long from the right flank diagonally to the left, looking for Barnes or Ings. Trippier is the latest to try, but it’s slightly overhit and Ings can only give away a throw-in near the touchline. | 10 mins: Burnley keep hitting the ball early and long from the right flank diagonally to the left, looking for Barnes or Ings. Trippier is the latest to try, but it’s slightly overhit and Ings can only give away a throw-in near the touchline. |
| 1.38pm BST13:38 | 1.38pm BST13:38 |
| 8 mins: Burnley have their tails up here. Boyd tries to run from midfield, gets hopelessly outpaced by a defender, who nicks the ball off him, takes it out wide and thinks his job is done. It’s not – Boyd doesn’t stop running, chases him down and wins a throw-in. | 8 mins: Burnley have their tails up here. Boyd tries to run from midfield, gets hopelessly outpaced by a defender, who nicks the ball off him, takes it out wide and thinks his job is done. It’s not – Boyd doesn’t stop running, chases him down and wins a throw-in. |
| 1.36pm BST13:36 | 1.36pm BST13:36 |
| 5 mins: What a chance for Burnley! And Ings misses it! Mason dwells on the ball, 10 yards outside his penalty area, and Boyd closes him down, shunts him off the ball and plays it through for Ings, who is clean through with two defenders breathing down his neck when he shoots straight down the middle from 10 yards. | 5 mins: What a chance for Burnley! And Ings misses it! Mason dwells on the ball, 10 yards outside his penalty area, and Boyd closes him down, shunts him off the ball and plays it through for Ings, who is clean through with two defenders breathing down his neck when he shoots straight down the middle from 10 yards. |
| Updated at 1.51pm BST | Updated at 1.51pm BST |
| 1.33pm BST13:33 | 1.33pm BST13:33 |
| 3 mins: Tottenham control the opening exchanges, but then Bentaleb surrenders possession in midfield and Burnley break. A little. And then get a throw-in. | 3 mins: Tottenham control the opening exchanges, but then Bentaleb surrenders possession in midfield and Burnley break. A little. And then get a throw-in. |
| 1.31pm BST13:31 | 1.31pm BST13:31 |
| 1 min: Ashley Barnes spears in the day’s first cross, which flies beyond both Burnley striker. It won’t be the last, methinks. | 1 min: Ashley Barnes spears in the day’s first cross, which flies beyond both Burnley striker. It won’t be the last, methinks. |
| 1.30pm BST13:30 | 1.30pm BST13:30 |
| Peeeeeeeeep! | Peeeeeeeeep! |
| 1 min: Action stations, as Tottenham get the match started. | 1 min: Action stations, as Tottenham get the match started. |
| 1.28pm BST13:28 | 1.28pm BST13:28 |
| Loud applause, you say. Remarkable stuff. By the way, Burnley is blessed with a gorgeous blue, cloudless sky today. I’ve not been for a few years, but remember Turf Moor for being blessed with the nation’s most scenic press box. | Loud applause, you say. Remarkable stuff. By the way, Burnley is blessed with a gorgeous blue, cloudless sky today. I’ve not been for a few years, but remember Turf Moor for being blessed with the nation’s most scenic press box. |
| The players make their way out on to the pitch to loud applause from both sets of supporters. #COYS | The players make their way out on to the pitch to loud applause from both sets of supporters. #COYS |
| 1.25pm BST13:25 | 1.25pm BST13:25 |
| The players are now leaving the tunnel. Deep breath, world. | The players are now leaving the tunnel. Deep breath, world. |
| 1.25pm BST13:25 | 1.25pm BST13:25 |
| “Resistable force (Burnley ‘attack’) v ‘Moveable object’ (Tottenham defence) today?” wonders Lou Roper. “Hopefully, goals aplenty will be the result: 3-3?” Well that would be tempting fate – but it’s certainly worth pointing out that Spurs have only kept one clean sheet in the league this calendar year, and that’s with a defence featuring Lloris and Vertonghen, both out today, and as @steamyteabuns points out, their bench is defensively wobbly. | “Resistable force (Burnley ‘attack’) v ‘Moveable object’ (Tottenham defence) today?” wonders Lou Roper. “Hopefully, goals aplenty will be the result: 3-3?” Well that would be tempting fate – but it’s certainly worth pointing out that Spurs have only kept one clean sheet in the league this calendar year, and that’s with a defence featuring Lloris and Vertonghen, both out today, and as @steamyteabuns points out, their bench is defensively wobbly. |
| @Simon_Burnton given that Spurs line up, the question is, who plays centre half if either Dier or Vlad gets hurt? | @Simon_Burnton given that Spurs line up, the question is, who plays centre half if either Dier or Vlad gets hurt? |
| 1.18pm BST13:18 | 1.18pm BST13:18 |
| Sean Dyche has had his pre-match chat with the TV folk: | Sean Dyche has had his pre-match chat with the TV folk: |
| We look for [the big teams to inspire them] of course. But we look for that to happen in all games. We’re well aware of the challenges of the Premier League now. We’re in there fighting, we are fighting. The margins are tight. They’re a fine side. They’ve spend £200m looking at their squad today, and they’ve got an in-form striker, but we’ve shown that we’re competitive in every game, and we want to be that today and we want to win. | We look for [the big teams to inspire them] of course. But we look for that to happen in all games. We’re well aware of the challenges of the Premier League now. We’re in there fighting, we are fighting. The margins are tight. They’re a fine side. They’ve spend £200m looking at their squad today, and they’ve got an in-form striker, but we’ve shown that we’re competitive in every game, and we want to be that today and we want to win. |
| We haven’t concentrated on Harry Kane, because they’ve got quality in different areas of the pitch. When you put that amount of finance into a team you expect to have good players. We can’t just work on one player, we have to work on the whole team. We’re aware of them, but it’s about what we do, how we perform. We’re generally happy with what we do. We create enough chances, we’ve got to take them chances. | We haven’t concentrated on Harry Kane, because they’ve got quality in different areas of the pitch. When you put that amount of finance into a team you expect to have good players. We can’t just work on one player, we have to work on the whole team. We’re aware of them, but it’s about what we do, how we perform. We’re generally happy with what we do. We create enough chances, we’ve got to take them chances. |
| 1.10pm BST13:10 | 1.10pm BST13:10 |
| The Tottenham manager has been speaking to Sky, who started by asking him about his starting XI, and in particular having Paulinho in the team and Townsend out of it. Obviously it’s not his first language, and I didn’t know whether it would be ruder to improve his English for him, or to leave it exactly as he said it. In the end I’ve left it, but mean no offence, honest. His English is a lot better than my Spanish: | The Tottenham manager has been speaking to Sky, who started by asking him about his starting XI, and in particular having Paulinho in the team and Townsend out of it. Obviously it’s not his first language, and I didn’t know whether it would be ruder to improve his English for him, or to leave it exactly as he said it. In the end I’ve left it, but mean no offence, honest. His English is a lot better than my Spanish: |
| Always some players injuries but after some tactical decision and after we’re fine to put the best XI to try to win the three points. Always we fine to put the best XI and to put the best player for each game. I think Harry deserve [to be captain]. After it’s a good opportunity to get the three points and performance well and try to stay high on the table. I think we have eight game. After this seven. It’s important to keep in the table higher in the table, and for that we must to win for to keep the chance to fight for the higher position. Burnley are a very difficult team. They run a lot, they play very well, good organise. A very tough team. I think they deserve more higher on the table. We expect today a very tough game. I think we need to be ready for fight because they play to survive. We need to be focused for this. | Always some players injuries but after some tactical decision and after we’re fine to put the best XI to try to win the three points. Always we fine to put the best XI and to put the best player for each game. I think Harry deserve [to be captain]. After it’s a good opportunity to get the three points and performance well and try to stay high on the table. I think we have eight game. After this seven. It’s important to keep in the table higher in the table, and for that we must to win for to keep the chance to fight for the higher position. Burnley are a very difficult team. They run a lot, they play very well, good organise. A very tough team. I think they deserve more higher on the table. We expect today a very tough game. I think we need to be ready for fight because they play to survive. We need to be focused for this. |
| 1.02pm BST13:02 | 1.02pm BST13:02 |
| I’d just like to say, we scooped the Telegraph by 19 minutes on the Ings/Kane Twitter split-picture story. Please don’t click on their link, we’re much better. | I’d just like to say, we scooped the Telegraph by 19 minutes on the Ings/Kane Twitter split-picture story. Please don’t click on their link, we’re much better. |
| Join @Simon_Burnton for the build-up to Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur – live! http://t.co/uUkAMYJX8f pic.twitter.com/tOLUmNUtWZ | Join @Simon_Burnton for the build-up to Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur – live! http://t.co/uUkAMYJX8f pic.twitter.com/tOLUmNUtWZ |
| Burnley vs Tottenham: LIVE! The teams are in. Check out all the latest right here http://t.co/WNPBc6t3wB #thfc pic.twitter.com/Yixqq1T7m0 | Burnley vs Tottenham: LIVE! The teams are in. Check out all the latest right here http://t.co/WNPBc6t3wB #thfc pic.twitter.com/Yixqq1T7m0 |
| 12.49pm BST12:49 | 12.49pm BST12:49 |
| Someone always sends in a picture of the programme, so here it is. You have to look quite hard to find out who Burnley are playing: | Someone always sends in a picture of the programme, so here it is. You have to look quite hard to find out who Burnley are playing: |
| 12.47pm BST12:47 | 12.47pm BST12:47 |
| Sky have thrust their microphone in the face of a couple of footballers. First, there was Michel Vorm: | Sky have thrust their microphone in the face of a couple of footballers. First, there was Michel Vorm: |
| The No1 is injured at the moment, and I’ve been ready for this all the time. Now is my opportunity, so I will show what I can. It’s still possible to qualify for the Champions League but we have to look at ourselves, we need to make sure we play well and win games and then we’ll see what can happen. Today’s going to be hard. We know Burnley are going to give everything. We’ve seen the big teams here struggle. It’s hard but I’m 100% sure that if we play our own game, with the confidence we have, then were can win. | The No1 is injured at the moment, and I’ve been ready for this all the time. Now is my opportunity, so I will show what I can. It’s still possible to qualify for the Champions League but we have to look at ourselves, we need to make sure we play well and win games and then we’ll see what can happen. Today’s going to be hard. We know Burnley are going to give everything. We’ve seen the big teams here struggle. It’s hard but I’m 100% sure that if we play our own game, with the confidence we have, then were can win. |
| And then came Burnley’s David Jones: | And then came Burnley’s David Jones: |
| We’ll just be focused on our job and getting the performance right and hopefully that’ll get us points. We’ve got to treat each game the same. We’re in a decent position to be able to get out of this fight at the bottom of the table. We beat Manchester City recently and we’ll be looking today to replicate and even improve on that performance. | We’ll just be focused on our job and getting the performance right and hopefully that’ll get us points. We’ve got to treat each game the same. We’re in a decent position to be able to get out of this fight at the bottom of the table. We beat Manchester City recently and we’ll be looking today to replicate and even improve on that performance. |
| 12.42pm BST12:42 | 12.42pm BST12:42 |
| Jan Vertonghen is absent from the Spurs squad because of illness. Michel Vorm makes his first Premier League start for the club. Burnley are unchanged, but have Fredrik Ulvestad, the Norwegian international midfielder who signed for the club last month, in their matchday squad for the first time. | Jan Vertonghen is absent from the Spurs squad because of illness. Michel Vorm makes his first Premier League start for the club. Burnley are unchanged, but have Fredrik Ulvestad, the Norwegian international midfielder who signed for the club last month, in their matchday squad for the first time. |
| 12.32pm BST12:32 | 12.32pm BST12:32 |
| Those teams in full, with substitutes and stuff. Harry Kane captains Spurs: | Those teams in full, with substitutes and stuff. Harry Kane captains Spurs: |
| Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee, Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Ings, Barnes, Vokes. Subs: Kightly, Sordell, Jutkiewicz, Ulvestad, Gilks, Ward, Keane. Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Walker, Dier, Chiriches, Rose, Mason, Bentaleb, Eriksen, Paulinho, Chadli, Kane. Subs: Soldado, Lamela, Townsend, Dembele, Friedel, Stambouli, Davies. Referee: Martin Atkinson | Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee, Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Ings, Barnes, Vokes. Subs: Kightly, Sordell, Jutkiewicz, Ulvestad, Gilks, Ward, Keane. Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Walker, Dier, Chiriches, Rose, Mason, Bentaleb, Eriksen, Paulinho, Chadli, Kane. Subs: Soldado, Lamela, Townsend, Dembele, Friedel, Stambouli, Davies. Referee: Martin Atkinson |
| 12.31pm BST12:31 | 12.31pm BST12:31 |
| The teams! | The teams! |
| According to the relevant Twitter types, today’s starting line-ups will be as follows: | According to the relevant Twitter types, today’s starting line-ups will be as follows: |
| Confirmed #BFC starting XI: Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell (c), Mee; Boyd, Jones, Arfield, Barnes; Ings, Vokes. #ClaretsLIVE | Confirmed #BFC starting XI: Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell (c), Mee; Boyd, Jones, Arfield, Barnes; Ings, Vokes. #ClaretsLIVE |
| #THFC team: Vorm, Walker, Chiriches, Dier, Rose; Bentaleb, Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Paulinho; Kane (c) #COYS | #THFC team: Vorm, Walker, Chiriches, Dier, Rose; Bentaleb, Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Paulinho; Kane (c) #COYS |
| 12.30pm BST12:30 | 12.30pm BST12:30 |
| We will have the team news shortly. In the meantime, read Alan Smith’s interview with Nacer Chadli: | We will have the team news shortly. In the meantime, read Alan Smith’s interview with Nacer Chadli: |
| Nacer Chadli takes a deep breath and for a fleeting moment stares vacantly into the distance. The Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium midfielder is discussing his father’s passing in January when he pauses to consider how difficult it was to return to football after the funeral in Morocco. It hit him hard but when his performance levels, after an impressive start to the season, dropped ever so slightly during that period of mourning there was no shortage of criticism. | Nacer Chadli takes a deep breath and for a fleeting moment stares vacantly into the distance. The Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium midfielder is discussing his father’s passing in January when he pauses to consider how difficult it was to return to football after the funeral in Morocco. It hit him hard but when his performance levels, after an impressive start to the season, dropped ever so slightly during that period of mourning there was no shortage of criticism. |
| A sign of the times and the overburdening level of expectancy bestowed on players, perhaps, but Chadli continued to battle. The 25-year-old’s steely resolve shone through. Jibes from pundits after a stray pass here or a mistimed tackle there were not going to derail him. | A sign of the times and the overburdening level of expectancy bestowed on players, perhaps, but Chadli continued to battle. The 25-year-old’s steely resolve shone through. Jibes from pundits after a stray pass here or a mistimed tackle there were not going to derail him. |
| “It was difficult going back for the funeral but important to be with my family during that time,” Chadli says. “I needed to be there to support them and I needed them to support me through it. But after a few days I was ready to go back. When you’re mourning, I think it’s important to focus on doing something that you love to help you and to get me through it I had football.” | “It was difficult going back for the funeral but important to be with my family during that time,” Chadli says. “I needed to be there to support them and I needed them to support me through it. But after a few days I was ready to go back. When you’re mourning, I think it’s important to focus on doing something that you love to help you and to get me through it I had football.” |
| Spurs wore black armbands in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Sheffield United as a mark of respect. “I was touched by how the club and my team-mates dealt with it,” Chadli says. “They were excellent during a difficult period and it was very welcome by my family.” | Spurs wore black armbands in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Sheffield United as a mark of respect. “I was touched by how the club and my team-mates dealt with it,” Chadli says. “They were excellent during a difficult period and it was very welcome by my family.” |
| Read the full story here. | Read the full story here. |