Stevie wonder! Jose, Hugo, Sonny on Bergwijn
Mon 03 February 2020, 16:30|
Tottenham Hotspur
Jose Mourinho led the tributes after Steven Bergwijn’s dream debut against Manchester City.
With us only a few days after arriving from PSV last week, the flying Dutchman made quite an impact, volleying home from the edge of the box just after the hour to spark our run to victory against the reigning double champions in the Premier League on Sunday.
Heung-Min Son soon made it 2-0 to take us into fifth in the table, four points behind Chelsea.
“It was a debut goal that was the icing on the cake of a very good performance,” said Jose. “Independent of the goal, I would say his performance was very good, very solid, very mature.
“We worked hard during the week. He came to us Tuesday, so he had a complete week to work and to try as fast as possible to understand what we wanted from him.
“It was a very solid performance against such a difficult opponent like Kyle Walker, but then he was clever enough to appear also in other zones and try to create some problems for City. Defensively, very aware of his position, defending zonal, covering spaces. So very, very good and then of course the goal is a great goal, so important for us.”
Sonny knew exactly what Steven felt when that ball hit the back of the net. Turn the clock back to September, 2015, and our South Korean star experienced exactly the same emotions with his first Premier League strike at the Lane to secure victory against Palace.
“What a finish!” said Sonny. “He played his first game, he scored, and everyone was so happy. That’s how amazing this group is and it’s an amazing feeling.
“I don’t want to just say about me, but I remember when I played almost five years ago at White Hart Lane against Palace, scored, and I know how it feels. I’m really happy for him and hopefully more to come.”
“What a goal! What a start!” beamed skipper Hugo Lloris, who played a decisive part in the win with a crucial save from Sergio Aguero and then denying Ilkay Gundogan from the penalty spot in the first half.
“It’s not easy to come from a different league into the Premier League in terms of intensity, and to start against Manchester City... he did well, and he was decisive.
“It’s going to help him to get into the team, to get into the Club, even the relationship with the fans here is going to be even greater in the future. But he couldn’t start in a better way.”
