Lucas: “I said in my head, ‘I will jump, I will score’”
Mon 27 December 2021, 12:45|
Tottenham Hotspur
It’s a little secret Spurs fans have known for a while, but not so much the wider football community. Well, maybe not so more... Lucas Moura’s aerial ability.
Ever since the Brazilian speedster stepped into Hotspur Way for the first time in January, 2017, and made his first appearances for us at the end of the 2017/18 campaign, we’ve all marvelled at his ability to get airborne and win headers that, quite frankly, he has no right to win.
That ability was there in all its glory in our Boxing Day win against Crystal Palace, where Lucas shone again - a goal and two assists as we came home 3-0, making it three goals in his last three starts against Norwich, West Ham and now Palace.
Lucas was integral to the win with his ability to make something happen when a game has gone quiet, usually a burst of raw pace, or a piece of trickery that takes him away from opponents - most spectacularly seen in his opening goal recently against Norwich.
He started it all by setting up Harry Kane’s opener and, two minutes later, soared through the air to meet Emerson Royal’s cross for 2-0. In full control, and with Palace down to 10 men, Lucas put the icing on the cake by crossing for Heung-Min Son to tuck home the third in the second half.
I will always try to help the team, try to find solutions, drive the ball and find a pass for them... it’s a pleasure to have them by my side
It was put to Lucas afterwards how he’s often the man to deliver in these game situations. He told us: “That’s my style, my way to play, always trying to use my pace and to accelerate the game, trying to find solutions. Then, we have players with quality, I think, as a team, we’re improving a lot. Every game, we’re improving. I’m very happy, very positive for the rest of the season.”
Lucas’ header for the second goal will live long in the memory, the very definition of and ‘old-fashioned English number nine’ as he leapt high over Palace defender Joachim Andersen to power home.
“It was crazy,” he beamed. “I spoke to Emerson before the game and said to him, ‘if you look at me arriving, just put the ball to the second post, I will arrive, I will jump’.
“That’s another part of my character. I love to jump and, sometimes, people think I’m small and I will not jump, but I jumped and when I saw the ball in the air I just said in my head, ‘I will jump, I will score’. That’s it. I’m very happy to help the team. It’s always a pleasure to score. A great day.
“It was another solid performance. We’re very happy. We need to keep going in this way, working hard. We started the game a little slowly, but we were solid. Then, after the first goal, things started to develop. I think it was a great performance.”
