“I never give up” – Spurs star explains how he overcame the hard times at Spurs

Of all the players that have worn the famous Lilywhite shirt in recent history, no one has been able to turn their Spurs career around as much as Moussa Sissoko has.

The midfielder was one of the most unpopular players among Spurs fans after his first two seasons at the club and was often on the receiving end of scathing criticism on social media.

However, the 29-year-old looked a completely different player last season as he went from strength to strength with more game time.

He became one of the team’s most consistent performers and quickly won the fans over.

The club have now started a new segment on their official website in which they get all the players to ask one question each to a teammate, and it was Moussa Sissoko who went first.

The French international was asked by Son Heung-Min how he managed to turn his Spurs career around, and he responded, “It’s because of my work, my mentality, and that’s it. I never give up.

“Everyone knows and it’s true that when I first came here it wasn’t easy for me, for different reasons. It was a new team for me, a new challenge, different players, different system.

“The players already here were also doing well, so it was never easy to be in the starting line-up straight away. I took my time, didn’t give up, worked hard every day.

“I know people expected more. I didn’t panic, I stayed focussed with the help of my team-mates and the staff and last season was the best season since I started playing football. It was fantastic.

“I think I can show – even away from football – that when something is hard, you don’t have to give up. Keep working, keep believing and do what you have to do, and it will turn around.”

In response to a question by his compatriot Hugo Lloris, the former Newcastle United man also revealed how proud he is when he hears Spurs fans signing his name.

Sissoko said, “I’m really, really proud of that (fans signing his name). First, because of where I came from, the beginning was tough. It means a lot. On the pitch, you feel strong, you feel proud.”

Spurs Web Opinion

No one expected Sissoko to perform the way he did last season. His transformation yet again proves that we as fans have little idea about the potential of different players as we don’t see them in the training ground on a regular basis. So while criticising players is fair game, there is nothing to be gained from slagging players off on social media.

Related Topics