STYLE HIGH CLUB
Sanchez: At Spurs we’ve a philosophy that makes us winners
IT IS the unlikely title challenge that refuses to go away.
Spurs are on the undercard of a high-class bill this weekend but, if results go their way, they could be just two points behind Manchester City and Liverpool tomorrow night. Today’s trip to Burnley is followed by crunch games against Chelsea and Arsenal.
And Davinson Sanchez, Tottenham’s rising star from the small town of Caloto in Colombia, epitomises the spirit that is keeping them in the title slipstream. “Nobody has given us any gifts,” said the 22-year-old. “In fact when teams play us they want to beat us because they know that we have a style of play, we have a philosophy. “But the mentality instilled in this team means we can keep getting results. We know that it’s important to finish high in the table and important to finish above our rivals here in London.” The work ethi c of Sanchez has seen him enjoy a meteoric rise from humble beginnings to super-stardom.
As a 17-year-old he was a defensive midfielder for Atletico Nacional in his homeland but couldn’t get a game under then-boss Juan Carlos Osorio. “I started training as a midfielder there but it was really competitive,” Sanchez explained.
“I asked to play for the Under-20s to have more game time but eventually the only position I was going to get game time was at centre-back.
“So I started playing there and started to show the qualities that I have now.
“Osorio told me ‘this is your position. You have the character, you have the pace and you have the lead- ership qualities to play there.’ That’s how it started.”
Sanchez spoke after showing his support and presenting prizes to disabled and non-disabled children at an inclusive tournament run by the Tottenham Foundation (below).
”If you can’t enjoy moments like this then you can’t enjoy life,” he said.
“I’m someone who has come through situations where I saw hard things. I set up my own foundation in my town in Colombia, mainly for children too. To put them on a path. To show that if I can make something different of my life then they can too.”
By the age of 19 Sanchez had won seven trophies as a centre-back with Nacional. Barcelona came knocking but the teenager instead joined Ajax – a decision that would ultimately benefit Spurs.
“Barcelona wanted me to play for their B team,” he said. “But I wanted to stay and win the Copa Libertadores and after that I didn’t want to go down to a B team. I believed in my qualities and believed I could play in their first team. Ajax wanted me to be a part of their first team.”
Sanchez (left) is completely confident that in joining Ajax and then Spurs just a year later he made the right decision.
“Definitely,” he said. “The manager told me that at Tottenham if you deserve something you will get it.
“He said that Tottenham was a special place, a special club, that they were building a project and that he saw me as a part of that.
“I found a group of players that were very open, friendly, big personalities and all going for the same objective.”