Emerson Royal has insisted that he is adapting very well to the physicality and intensity of the Premier League.
The Brazilian initially showed some promise in his first couple of months at Spurs but he has been found wanting since Antonio Conte arrived in North London and implemented a change of system.
Over recent months, Matt Doherty has displaced Emerson as Conte’s preferred choice for the right wing-back role but the former Real Betis man insisted he is continuing to ‘evolve’ as a player after moving from Spain.
When asked about the difference between La Liga and the Premier League, he told Cadena SER program Que t’hi jugues: “It’s very different, the Premier League is much more physical.
“I think the Premier is improving a lot. Very good players are arriving and you can improve your level a lot. The Premier allows you to evolve a lot and this attracts footballers a lot.
“The training sessions are also different because the games require you to be at 100%. You train much more at Tottenham than at a team like Barça or Betis.
“In Barcelona we did more training on positions, more technique and with the ball. But in the Premier you need to work much more physically and at the moment I’m adapting very well.”
Emerson has raved about the ability of Harry Kane, admitting that he has never seen a player like the 28-year-old.
He said: “For me, Harry Kane is number 1 in the world at his position. Our plays all go through him. He is a player who is very easy to turn, to control the ball… I have never seen anything like that, he is very, very good.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I am a believer in being patient with young players who are new to the Premier League as it can often take a season or two for them to get used to the demands of the competition.
However, the issue I have with Emerson is that while I see him as being a competent full-back in a back four, I do not think he possesses the attributes to play as a wing-back.
Given his inability to beat players in one vs one, I do not see him growing into the wing-back role, no matter how much football he plays in that position.