‘Never ask myself too many questions’ – Ndombele explains how he relies on instinct

Tanguy Ndombele has not only established himself as a vital part of Jose Mourinho’s starting eleven this season but has also become a fan favourite among the Tottenham faithful.

Part of the reason he is adored by Spurs fans is because of his unpredictability and flair in possession.

The Frenchman, who has an unorthodox style of dribbling is capable of skipping past challenges with ease and always seems to be one step ahead of the opposition.

Ndombele has admitted that he does not think about what he is going to do when he is on the ball and instead relies on his instinct to make the right decision.

The midfielder told Football.London: “I’m someone who plays on instinct. I never ask myself too many questions on the field. Things come to me quickly in my head, thankfully.

“It’s important not to be afraid. That’s exactly it. You try stuff, and taking a risk is part of the job.

“Of course sometimes that’s not easy but if you go for something risky and it helps the team then that’s great, and I think all teams need players who are ready to take risks.

“It’s not something that I think about too much, to be honest. It comes naturally.

“If I sense that it’s the right time to pull off the move, I do it and if not, then I don’t bring it out.”

However, the 24-year-old admitted that his desire while dribbling is not to entertain the crowd but rather to find practical solutions on the pitch.

When asked if he feels it his duty to entertain the fans, he responded: “No. I am just trying to do what is good for the team on the pitch.

“If entertaining the crowd is better for the team then that’s good but I’m not going to dribble just to be an entertainer.”

A perfect illustration of the former Lyon man’s pitch IQ was the improvised finish he pulled off in Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United last month.

Speaking about his brilliant lob over Aaron Ramsdale, Ndombele said: “It was instinct. It happened so quickly.

“The ball came over, I didn’t even have time to really look to see what the positioning [of the keeper] was.

“I just went for the lob and thankfully it went in so it wasn’t something that was pre-planned.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It is Ndombele’s unpredictability that makes him so hard to defend against. Now that he is playing in a deeper role, it is key that he picks his moments regarding the risks he takes on the ball and balances that with the discipline the role requires. He certainly seems to be doing well so far and will only get better and better with more games under his belt.

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