Erik Lamela has admitted that it is more important than ever that he and his teammates remain mentally strong in order to help the team get back to winning ways.
Lamela has got plenty of minutes under his belt since returning from his injury.
The Argentine has started all of Tottenham’s last three matches and even though results have not gone Spurs’ way, he admitted that he is happy to be on the field playing.
The 28-year-old told Tottenham’s official website: “After the last injury, it was difficult to get back into the team but now I’m getting the opportunity and I’m enjoying that, even though we are not getting the results that we want,”
“The next few games are very important for us. Everyone knows that and if I get the opportunity, I will give my best to help us progress in the Europa League. I think I can still do better to help the team. That’s what I’m looking to do.”
Lamela has earned a lot of praise from Jose Mourinho recently, with the Spurs boss admitting last week that he ‘loves’ the midfielder’s energy and enthusiasm.
The former Roma man insisted that he and his teammates need to push each other in order to get through the difficult moment they are in and turn around their form.
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The long-serving Spurs star added: “Going forward, it is about giving my best, trying to score more goals, to create more chances, helping the team defend, to ask for the ball when I need to ask for the ball.
“It’s to help my team-mates when I see that we might need something else, to be together, to push them and to tell them to push me. The mentality has to be good and we cannot give up – now more than ever, we need to give our best.
“I want to give my best, not only for my team but also for the coach, for the fans, for my family, for my kids. When I am on the pitch, apart from just enjoying the game, it is also about feeling proud after the performance. To give everything is the least we can do.”
It remains to be seen if the Argentine international will start against Wolfsberger this evening, with Mourinho admitting in his pre-match press conference that he has to be cautious with the players who covered a lot of ground against Everton and Manchester City.
Whether or not he plays, the midfielder is confident that the North Londoners will get the better of the Austrian side if they are at their best.
Lamela said about the round of 32 tie: “I know this team and therefore I know that if we are at our best, we can do big things.
“It doesn’t matter who we are playing, we need to go and show that we are the team that we know we can be.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I expect Lamela to start from the bench this evening but I would not be surprised if he comes on in the second half in order to take advantage of the opposition’s tired legs. The fact that the game is being held at a neutral venue should hopefully help us put ourselves in commanding position before the second leg.
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