Lamela thinks it’s just Fab when the red mist descends
ERIK LAMELA is thinking back to the Battle of the Bridge when the topic of whether he meant to tread on Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas’ hand crops up. The Tottenham attacker insists it was not intentional but admits that, sometimes, these things can happen when a game of football is so alive and aggressive. ‘It was a good game to play, away against Chelsea,’ says Lamela of the infamous 2-2 draw in 2016. ‘A lot of things went on in that game but that’s football. I didn’t see him [Fabregas]. I was just walking. I stepped on his hand but it’s football, no? It can happen. Sometimes defenders kick me without the ball and I’m not saying anything and no one sees. It’s part of the game.’ In his home city of Buenos Aires, the SuperClasico between Boca Juniors and his old club River Plate is one of the world’s most intense derbies and Lamela sees similarities in the hatred between Chelsea and Tottenham, yet loves taking part in games where there is more than just three points up for grabs. Today, with Spurs having not won at Stamford Bridge since February 1990, they will also be playing for pride. Once before a SuperClasico, Lamela was on the River Plate team bus when the windows were shattered by rocks. You would think that might put a player off a match but Lamela explains: ‘I like to play with intensity, when the game is alive. River-Boca is a big, big derby and it’s really intense. For the people, it’s more than just three points. This is the most crazy thing. You win the derby, you can save the whole season. ‘Boca-River, it’s like this, but also here. All the supporters want to win the derby. It’s the most important game of the season.’