TOTT & BOTTOM
Spurs defender Sanchez: Critics thought we wouldn’t be in the race but we all believe in ourselves and we’ll definitely fight to finish right up there
DAVINSON SANCHEZ believes Tottenham are ready to fight for a top-four place this season.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo arrived in one of the club’s most difficult summers for years with Harry Kane wanting to leave, the squad in need of a rebuild and on the back of a farcical managerial search.
But lowered expectations may just do Tottenham a favour when the manager is trying to make his mark and he has inherited a talented squad still capable of making a strong push for a Champions League spot.
Tottenham have hardly been in the conversation as to who will finish in the top four but their impressive win over Manchester City on the opening weekend may just be tempting a few pundits to have a quick rethink about the club’s aspirations.
They are determined to keep Kane, they have signed Bryan Gil and Cristian Romero, and could yet do more deals to strengthen the squad which leaves the players believing the new manager can defy the odds this season.
Tottenham defender Sanchez (challenging City’s Kevin De Bruyne on Sunday, below) said: “Everybody has a big challenge this season. Maybe a few people haven’t put us in the race but definitely we’re going to fight for the right to be there.
“We believe in each other, we want to see how far we can go, we’ll take it game by game like always. Wins like this at the start of the season can mean a lot. We’ve beaten the champions but it’s the first game.
“The competition starts now. It’s a big three points but there’s such a long way to go and everyone can understand that.
“We are very experienced, we don’t need to prove to anyone how good we are. From me, everyone knows when the team is doing well the performances become more easy to arrive. It has been very tough, for me the last two seasons, but we are here just to let people enjoy themselves.”
Sanchez admits that Tottenham’s last couple of seasons have not been good enough for their own ambitions, having reached the Champions League final two years ago.
Mauricio Pochettino’s departure was followed by Jose Mourinho and now it is a new era with Nuno. Sanchez believes they are ready for another chapter.
He added: “When a new manager comes everyone gets excited because there are a lot of changes, new challenges and we want to help him.
“Whoever is playing, we are together, we are pulling in the same direction to help the club.
“We are not looking for excuses. This has been hard because it has pained everyone to see not having the performances everyone expects.”