YOU MUST BE MOUSSTAKEN

Sissoko admits he could have been playing for Toffees today if it wasn’t for Poch and Levy

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Tom Hopkinson

MOUSSA SISSOKO could easily have been playing for Everton rather than Tottenham this afternoon.

Ronald Koeman ( right) wanted to take the Frenchman to Goodison Park in August 2016, but was pipped to his signature by Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino and chairman Daniel Levy on transfer deadline day. “It was funny,” said Sissoko. “When I signed, I was in the office with the chairman and I saw on the TV, ‘Sissoko was on his way to Everton, but then he went back and came to Tottenham’. It wasn’t true.

Escape

“Before I signed here, I talked with Koeman, the manager of Everton, on the phone.

“He wanted me to join Everton and I said, ‘You have to speak with Newcastle and my agent and if you find an agreement, why not?’

“On that day, we didn’t have anything.

“Then, on the last day of the transfer window, I came here and everything was nearly done with Tottenham.

“So, in my head, it was clear. “I was happy because I wanted to leave Newcastle and had the opportunity to sign here.”

For two seasons, Everton fans probably b bl th thought ht th they’d ’d h had d a lucky escape after the midfielder failed to live up to his £30million price tag.

But this time he is finally showing the sort of form he is capable of and has been one of Tottenham’s best players of the current campaign.

Part of his drive this season is, he admits, a result of the heartache he felt at missing out on the France squad, which went on to win the World Cup.

Sissoko added: “I won’t lie and say, ‘It wasn’t painful to not be part of the squad’.

“But you have to accept the manager has made his choice.

“I was still behind the team because I had a lot of friends and, if I wasn’t in the squad, it was not because b of f th them, it was b because I didn’t do enough.

“That pain has probably helped to drive me on this season.

“It was extra motivation to perform and show I could be in the squad.”

Thumbs-up

Spurs boss Pochettino, one of the top candidates to become Manchester United’s new manager in the summer following the departure of Jose Mourinho, is another key factor.

Sissoko said: “He said to me a few times that, if I am here, it is because I have the potential to be here.

“If he signed me, it’s because I can be a success here, so keep working ki and d never give i up and d things will change. Even in life, you never have to go with your head down, you have to look forward, try to improve, keep fighting and one day the thing will change.

“And t hat i s what has happened, so I am happy.”

So, too, are Spurs’ supporters, whose Wham!-inspired chant – “Wake me up, before you go, go, who needs Bale when you’ve got Sissoko?” – gets a thumbs- up from the player.

He added: “The first time they sang this song was last year when we played Real Madrid away.

“My uncle was with the fans and filmed the fans singing.

“I like this song, so I’m happy with it.”

TODAY, KO 4PM