Former Tottenham Player Terry Gibson Talks Pau López
Former Tottenham player Terry Gibson describes why Pau López is a good signing for Spurs after deadline day.
After Tottenham were able to secure the services of Espanyol goalkeeper Pau López on a season-long loan, there wasn’t much information about the 21-year-old.
What is known though, is that López is a highly-rated and talented Spain Under-21 international who was promoted to the first-team when Mauricio Pochettino and Toni Jiménez were still coaches with the Catalan club from 2009 through 2012.
Related Story: Tottenham Sign Pau Lopez on Loan
Helping provide critical information on Spurs’ newest signing is former Tottenham player Terry Gibson. The 53-year-old works for Sky Sports and commentates on La Liga games.
This gives Gibson an up-and-close personal look at López, and it’s safe to say that he has been impressed from what he’s seen.
“In recent seasons, Spain has been renowned for producing really good, talented young goalkeepers and Pau is on that list,” Terry Gibson said (via Tottenham’s official website).
“Espanyol sold Kiko Casilla to Real Madrid last summer so Pau came in and took over.”
“At the time it appeared to be a bad decision to let Casilla leave but Espanyol obviously knew that they had a really good young goalkeeper to follow him and he’s gone on to prove that he’s a fantastic stopper and someone who’s worthy of playing for Spurs.”
“I think he has the potential to be a really good goalkeeper for years to come and at one stage last season he didn’t appear to be too far away from being in the Spanish national set-up due to his good form – in fact he made the squad just before the Euros.”
“He’s a good all-round keeper. He’s a great shot-stopper, he’s good at dealing with crosses, he’s agile and all those attributes will only improve over time.”
“I think he represents a really good loan signing by Spurs.”
Loan signings have never happened under Mauricio Pochettino’s watch since he became Tottenham manager. So the fact that Pau López joined Spurs on loan on deadline day shows that he is a special talent that can be a starter in the future.
For all intents and purposes, López is the lone exception to Pochettino’s rule of not accepting players on loan. Instead, he sends players out who he deems needs first-team experience.
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Because Espanyol couldn’t find a replacement after they sold Kiko Casilla, López became the first-choice ‘keeper by default.
Having served as Casilla’s backup during the 2014-15 season, Pau López repaid the faith that the Catalan club had in him with 38 appearances in all competitions (35 starts in La Liga) last term.
This will only help the Spaniard improve his game, having that attitude to become the next great goalkeeper to represent his country.
“He’s been smashing,” Gibson continued.
“He was thrown in at the deep end really – it was a bit of a surprise that Casilla left to go back to Real Madrid last year and Espanyol didn’t have any real opportunity to look around for a replacement so Pau was thrown in amongst it and he’s been superb, really good.”
“He’s calm in his nature, too, and his temperament is one of the reasons why he’s done so well.”
“As I said, he was thrown in at a young age but he dealt with it very well and became their first choice goalkeeper.”
“If you look at the good keepers from La Liga who have come to England in recent years – Claudio Bravo is the latest one, there’s also been David De Gea, Thibaut Courtois was there on loan too – he’s got every chance of growing up to be a really top-class player.”
“He’s certainly one for the future.”
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With Hugo Lloris the starter when fit and Michel Vorm showing everyone that he is a reliable first-choice ‘keeper in his own right, it seems that Pau López might not get much playing time this season.
But with Vorm and Lloris potentially rotating for the Premier and Champions League, López could get his opportunity during the FA and League Cups.
Both cup competitions will only add more fixtures to impede Spurs’ progress in the Premiership and Europe, so starting Pau López in cup games is a no-brainer to rest both Lloris and Vorm.