‘I don’t understand anything’ – Spurs star admits difficulty in training this season

Emerson Royal has admitted that he didn’t understand anything during Nuno Espirito Santo’s training sessions at Tottenham. 

The Brazil international full-back was one of Tottenham’s incomings over the summer and has since managed to cement himself a spot in the line-up. 

He featured for 10 games under the now-departed Nuno, who was relieved of his duties after just four months in charge following a poor run of form. 

Having joined from Barcelona, it is unlikely that Emerson will have much knowledge of English alongside his current Portuguese and Spanish repertoire, so will have needed a bit of assistance from those around him to help him understand what is going on in training. 

But the 22-year-old has since revealed that he found it challenging to understand some of the training methods being explained by the former Wolves boss, and says no one would translate for him so he could start grasping the English language. 

He did, however, single out his compatriot Lucas Moura for being the one to help him out with what was being asked of the players. 

Speaking to Pro-Direct Soccer before Nuno’s departure, Emerson said: “I don’t understand anything. They ask me 50 times and I don’t understand anything.

“The manager [was] Portuguese but they don’t translate anything to me because they want me to learn.

“But some of my teammates translate – Lucas [Moura]. He translates to me and others who speak Portuguese.

“It’s because it’s impossible and there’s some training [methods] that I don’t understand what’s going on.

“They’re talking and I don’t understand it but then I start understanding it by looking at what they’re doing in training and doing the same. But when they explain it, I don’t understand it.”

Emerson later clarified on social media that he did not mean to disrespect Nuno with his comments, as the former Spurs boss was trying to help him learn English by not translating. He was merely explaining the challenge he faced.

Spurs Web Opinion 

Emerson seems to have settled well into the squad and cemented a spot in the line-up as his own, which should give him a lot of confidence.

His lack of English understanding is a bit of a problem, but Spurs have enough Spanish and Portuguese speakers to help him along the way. 

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