Pierluigi Gollini has claimed that qualifying for the Champions League in England is as difficult as winning the Scudetto in Italy, given the level of competition in the Premier League.
Spurs needed just a point to secure fourth place on the final day of the season, and Antonio Conte’s side did not make any mistakes, easing to a 5-0 win at Carrow Road.
The result means that the Lilywhites will be back in Europe’s premier club competition next season after a two-year hiatus.
Conte insisted that taking over Tottenham mid-season and guiding them to a top-four finish is one of the biggest achievements of his managerial career (Spurs TV).
It remains to be seen whether Gollini will be at Spurs next season to experience the Champions League music at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the goalkeeper raved about the team’s achievement.
The 27-year-old told DAZN (22/05/22 – as relayed by Sport Witness): “The last one with Norwich? Since the coach came, we’ve changed gear, we’ve had different momentum and confidence, and the results say it.
“The level here is very high; they make great markets. Getting into the Champions League here is the equivalent of winning championships elsewhere, or almost.
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“It would be like winning the Scudetto, getting into the Champions League. Now we have two results out of three against Norwich. It’s not easy here.”
Gollini also waxed lyrical about Spurs’ 62,850-capacity home ground, insisting that the venue is among the best in the Premier League.
The Italian added: “The stadium is so great. It is out of this league. It has a unique atmosphere; it’s magical. If we talk about the stadium, the structure, ours looks like an NFL stadium.
“The pitch turns; there is the platform for events. Our stadium doesn’t have a history; it’s a work of art. Anfield is the opposite. Even Old Trafford, if you’ve never been there, it’s a unique experience.”
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I am desperate for Gollini to stay given how invested the Italian seems in the team’s success. We certainly need players like the 27-year-old in the dressing room.
However, having said that, Conte and Paratici have to be ruthless with their decisions to get Spurs challenging at the top, and they might believe that having a homegrown backup goalkeeper is ideal for the squad’s makeup with Fraser Forster looking more likely to take up the role.
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