We ask the players... talk to us about Skippy...
Tue 28 February 2023, 09:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
Oliver Skipp’s wonderful first goal in a Spurs shirt was met with universal delight from his team-mates after Sunday’s 2-0 win against Chelsea.
What a time for the Academy graduate to deliver. His 67th appearance in all competitions since making his debut in the League Cup at West Ham in 2018, Skippy strode onto a defensive clearance before smashing the ball home off the underside of the crossbar from 20 yards for the opener 20 seconds into the second half - right in front of an adoring 17,000 fans in the South Stand.
Harry Kane secured victory nine minutes from time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as we made it four wins in five in the Premier League.
We made a beeline for the tunnel after the game to get the players’ immediate thoughts on a moment to remember for Skippy, a player very much on his way back after a tough 2022, where injury sidelined him for the best part of 10 months, January-October.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
“Skippy is a young man with great potential, but he also has a mindset where he continues to work hard, continues to give his best and this is the greatest compliment I can give him, because without hard work and dedication and that mentality, it’s difficult to become something in this world. He has these things. He’s stepping up, that’s important for him and important for the team. That’s all we can ask for. He should be proud, but he should also be focussed on continuing this journey.”
Fraser Forster
“Brilliant... what a fantastic hit. Everyone’s absolutely delighted for him. We all know how hard he works and what a good professional he is so to score your first goal, and in that manner, it’s just fantastic. It’s always tough after a bad injury, it always takes time to come back from that and at a club like this, where you’ve so much competition for places, fantastic players around him, he’s had to be patient, but whenever he’s been called upon he’s been fantastic and he’s really showing what he can do.”
Harry Kane
“It was a top quality finish, as good as you can hit them, really. We work a lot in training on finishing from the edge of the box, second balls, and he’s been working hard, I'm so delighted it paid off.”
Heung-Min Son
“Everyone is so happy that he scored and got Man of the Match. We’re all delighted. I know how much it meant for him, coming through the Academy, it’s a dream to play for this Club and scoring this amazing goal in a derby. He works so hard, waited for his chance and I’m so happy he proved his quality. It’s well deserved.”
Ben Davies
“We couldn’t have been happier. It’s so well deserved. It was an amazing strike. We’ve been on him in training when he’s had a few, but when he was lining this one up, all the practice he’s had has finally come right. I thought he played brilliantly, broke up everything. It was thoroughly deserved and everyone is delighted for him.”
Clement Lenglet
“He deserved it because he’s a hard worker every day, every training session, he’s 100 per cent. When you have a player like this in the team you are always happy to see him happy, and to share a beautiful moment like today, not only a beautiful goal, but also an important for the team. He’s had some difficult moments but he’s back with a great attitude, commitment and he’s playing really well, so we’re all happy.”
Japhet Tanganga
“He deserved it so much. We’ve been working on it in training, patterns of play, midfielders getting shots off. He’s missed a couple, but he’s working on it and got into those habits and that’s the result. I’m so happy for it. I’ve played with Skippy for a long time, such a robust player, never got injured, but that’s football. He went through a phase of a few injuries, so I’m happy to see him back to his normal self and I just hope the goal gives him even more of a confidence boost.”
