Sanchez: 'With confidence, you feel you can do so much more'

Davinson Sanchez knew a response was needed from the team to get us back on track in the Premier League when Burnley came to town on Sunday – and that is exactly what the defender and his team-mates delivered.

From front to back, we were exceptional against the Clarets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as we cantered to a 4-0 win. A brace from Gareth Bale, as well as goals from Harry Kane and Lucas Moura, did the damage for us while, at the other end, a resolute defensive display saw us record our third clean sheet in the league since the turn of the year – a dominant and imposing performance from Davinson being crucial to that.

We had headed into the game on a disappointing run of form in the league. With five defeats from our last six outings, it was a very difficult period for the team, but our number six remained bullish about the situation.

Speaking to our official matchday programme ahead of the encounter with the Lancashire side, the Colombian international was open and honest about the state of play as he reflected on both an individual and collective basis. Yet, while recent difficulties have been somewhat of a setback for us, the defender feels the team has grown a lot in the past year and is now ready to make the next step.

“My time here has gone very quickly so far, and I feel I am very lucky, both here at the Club and in the national team, that I am in a good place and have gained so much experience by playing so many games. Being involved in matches and getting minutes makes you better in many aspects, not just as a player,” Davinson, who is quickly approaching his 250^th career appearance, explained.

“Obviously here, I feel there is a lot I can improve. First of all, I can’t allow my confidence to be let down because that is one of the most important things for any player in this game. When you have the confidence to play, you feel you can do so much more.

“Personally, I have gained a lot of experience and that has given me the chance to always face every new challenge with a renewed outlook. I think I am a lot calmer now, but I am still learning as a professional and always taking on board new things. You can always analyse your performance to do better.

“I am still 24 and so I still have a long way to go. I am just going to try to be here and do everything I can for the team and the Club and to be available in any moment that I am needed. Of course, I know it is the manager that decides on the team – I just have to make that a difficult job for the manager by delivering my best performance when I get my opportunity on the pitch.”

Discussing the competition for places in defence, Davinson added: “Definitely there is pressure in competition for starting places, but it is healthy competition because they are all very good guys. I just enjoy the moments when I can be on the pitch with any of them. If I am not, I will be there supporting them because as a team, we want to be in that best moment. So, it has to be like that, it has to be the whole squad supporting one another and all playing with the same direction. We cannot split.

“We cannot stay in a moment where we talk too much about the past. We can only think of the future. Things are going to get better. We are ready to go, to move on and make that next step.

“In the past year, I feel we as a team and as players have grown a lot. We are always looking to make that one step forward – that’s not just myself, that’s the team and the Club. If we want to see this Club at the point that everyone expects, where we are competing for something, we need to be able to make that step.”