Reguilon has found drive
SERGIO REGUILON is banking on a spot of debut deja-vu reigniting Tottenham’s spluttering season.
The ex-Real Madrid defender’s first appearance for the North London outfit this time last year was a successful one – as he helped them to beat bitter-rivals Chelsea in the League Cup.
That sparked a superb run of form which took Spurs to Wembley in the same competition and, briefly, to the top of the league – before the wheels completely came off and Jose Mourinho was sacked.
Now, after their perfect threegame start to the new Premier League campaign was brought to a halt by Crystal Palace last weekend, Tottenham host the high-flying Blues again.
And, according to Reguilon, today’s derby date – in front of a 68,000 capacity crowd – is the ideal chance for Nuno Espirito Santo’s outfit to restore belief.
The Spain international,
24, said: “We know that if we win, it would be an important victory.
“Chelsea are playing very good football. They are the Champions League winners. They are doing a lot of good things – we know it will be difficult. But we are in our stadium, with our fans, our people.”
Recalling his rollercoaster first clash against the Blues, Reguilon admits he was at fault for the visitors’ opening goal before assisting Eric Lamela (below).
Mourinho’s side progressed via a penalty shoot-out on a great night that promised great things.
Reguilon’s Premier League debut a week later was the 6-1 romp at Manchester United. Yet that all proved a false dawn – for Spurs and their new arrival from Madrid.
Reguilon, with six Spanish caps, said: “Last year was difficult for me. Because of Covid, I was alone over here, without my family.
“The club… we started very, very good but in the end the team went down. We arrived in December in the top two, maybe at the top of the league – and we wanted to finish in the Champions League.
“But after Christmas the results were not good and the mentality was negative. We’re trying to make sure the same does not happen this year.”
Reguilon’s adaptation to Spurs was helped by playing cricket with Dele Alli, Gareth Bale, Joe Hart and others in the gym.
And he said: “Sorry, but I didn’t understand this sport. “All the players watch it on TV and I was, like, ‘What’s that?’
“I knew baseball but this? Three sticks there, what’s that?
“Now, after months, it makes sense, finally.”