REGUILON HOPING REPEAT CAN HELP PROPEL TOTTENHAM UPWARDS
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 Londoners 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 the Carabao Cup final and, briefly, to the top of league before the wheels completely came off and Jose Mourinho was sacked.
Now, after their perfect three-game start to the new Premier League campaign was brought to a halt by Crystal Palace last weekend, Tottenham host the highflying 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 with a victory.
The Spanish international, 24, said: “We know 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’s equaliser.
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 both Spurs and their new arrival from Madrid.
Reguilon, who has six Spain caps, added: “Last year was difficult for me. Because of Covid I was alone over here, without my family. The club started 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.”