Home is where the Hart is – Chadli

Nacer Chadli insists he finally feels at home at Tottenham.

The 25-year-old Belgium international moved to White Hart Lane in the summer of 2013 with a host of other new faces as the club looked to re-invest the record transfer fee they had received for Gareth Bale.

The likes of Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela all arrived but – with the exception of Eriksen – most have flattered to deceive since moving to north London.

Chadli, too, struggled in his first season in England but feels he is now starting to play somewhere close to his best having established himself in Mauricio Pochettino‘s side.

“I feel more comfortable,” he said.

“It’s not easy when you get injured three times in a row. I haven’t been injured this season so I’m very pleased which can help me with my form.

“Everybody expected a lot (in 2013) and that’s normal because Tottenham sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid and the fans wanted good players back.

“It was a lot of pressure so it was difficult because when you sign so many different players you have to adapt. Some times it can be very quickly or it can take time.

“I am never pleased, I always want to score more. 10 is okay but I want more. Of course when you come to a new club, you have some kind of pressure, you have to prove why they bought you. For me football’s a game I want to enjoy, I love it, so you hope people enjoy it also.”

Although this season has been a success on the pitch, away from it Chadli has had to deal with the death of his father in January.

His impressive form dipped and he missed fixtures to travel for the funeral in Morocco – but he would not use the passing as an excuse and feels he is now starting to come to terms with it.

“It takes a long time to come through something like that and you never forget it. I am starting to feel better,” he added.

“It is normal that fans always want to see the best of you and when they don’t they are not happy, I understand that.  They come to watch the team win. You just have to try your best to forget about it.”

Chadli, 25, scored Tottenham’s second equaliser as they drew 2-2 at Southampton last weekend, I had money on him to score after being given promo code for SkyBet and is likely to retain his place for the visit of Manchester City on Sunday – with Pochettino pleased with the contribution of the former Twente midfielder.

The Spurs boss said: “He is an important player for us and over the season he has improved a lot. This is his second season at Tottenham and his season has been good.”

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