‘Always difficult’ – Spurs player explains how he stays motivated despite lack of game time

Alfie Whiteman has revealed that even though he does not get much of a look in at Tottenham, he never allows his standards to drop in training since an opportunity might be just around the corner.

Guglielmo Vicario is the established first choice at Tottenham and given the excellent start that the Italian has made to his career at the North London club, he looks set to hold on to the number one shirt for a long time.

The experienced Fraser Forster is Vicario’s main understudy while Brandon Austin also appears to be ahead of Whiteman in the pecking order, having made the bench regularly recently due to Forster’s injury.

How does Alfie Whiteman stay motivated at Spurs?

Whiteman, who grew up supporting Spurs as a kid and came through the academy set-up, is still waiting for his senior debut for the Lilywhites, and he admitted that while it is not easy to watch on from the sidelines, he is always ready to do a job whenever he is needed.

The 25-year-old told The Athletic: “The reality of the position of the goalkeeper is that there is only one. You’re not subbed in and subbed out and, playing for a big club, there is going to be fierce competition.

“When you’re not playing, it’s always difficult because everyone wants to play — hence why I went on loan to go and play games. The main thing is just focusing on today’s training, doing well, and then the day after that — and being ready, because you never know when your opportunity may arise.

“It’s all very intrinsic motivation. I feel with everything I try to do — if that’s making the bed, or eating the right things, or just picking up a piece of rubbish — I want to do things well. I feel like people don’t understand how intense training can be. It’s not just a kickabout. It’s competitive and it’s high-paced.

“You’re performing every day on the training pitch to try to prove to the coaches and the gaffer that you deserve to be there, you deserve to be in the team. The motivation just comes from me wanting to do well in whatever I’m doing.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Whiteman evidently has a fantastic mindset. The fact that Tottenham have kept him at Hotspur Way for so long suggests that the club are quite pleased with his professionalism and the way he trains.

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