After beating Norwich City on Boxing Day here are the transcripts from Tottenham Hotspur players: Tom Carroll, Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane. And then finally from manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Before the game started, even though Tottenham had yet to lose a Boxing Day fixture since 2003 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. No games can be taken lightly no matter who the opponent is. I’m sure looking back on it now, Stoke City looked like an automatic win until Spurs collapsed late to draw 2-2. Same thing against Leicester City. But earning a 1-1 draw now looks like a great result considering what the Foxes have accomplished so far and are league leaders.
RELATED: Conversation Corner: Tottenham Clinches Fourth After 2-0 Win
With Tottenham in the top four for the first time this season heading into Christmas, coming out of this holiday period unscathed and still clinching fourth will be very important. Norwich City were a bottom dweller-type of team as they were sitting in 16th place before this game got underway, but a win was needed in order to assure Spurs are a serious Champions League quality team and even a dark horse for the Premier League title.
Now with that out of the way, it’s time to begin our first transcript of the match courtesy of Tottenham’s official site with their post-match interviews. Our first interviewee is Tom Carroll.
Next: Tom Carroll
Central midfielder, Tom Carroll
Spurs TV: Okay we’re with a very happy Tom Carroll. Just walked off the pitch, Tom what a fantastic goal.
Tom Carroll: Yeah cheers. Delighted to get my first Premier League goal. I don’t know a celebration to give them the best. But you know I’m absolutely delighted to get it and the win.
STV: It was one of those goals where as soon as you hit it, everyone behind you knew that was in.
TC: Yeah I caught it nice. I had a nice angle of it and luckily it went it. Yeah I caught it quite perfect. When you catch it that nice, you got half a chance.
STV: Tell us about this performance because Norwich started ever so well. But from about 20 minutes on we dominated didn’t we?
TC: Yeah first 20 we were slow to get out of the blocks. But after that, I thought we were pretty good and dominated. In the second half especially, we come out and we were sharp and right from the word go.
STV: And when you got someone like Harry who can score goals, bang, I mean the second goal in particular. What a strike wasn’t it?
TC: Yeah. Actually everyday in training. I mean soon as he gets half a yard, he’s going to hit the target and the second one today was a great finish.
STV: So we got a whole 48 hours before the next one, Watford, who are doing well this season. I think they’re joined today by Chelsea? And have a tough one?
TC: Yeah definitely. Yeah they’re an organized side and they’re doing well at the minute. Their front is looking dangerous so it’ll be a tough test for us but we’ll be looking forward to it.
STV: And we spoke to you recently about your first Spurs goal. So how was your first Premier League goal feel?
TC: Even better I think. Yeah it’s every boy’s dream I think to score in the Premier League goal so delighted to get that.
STV: Well you talked about your celebration but I think you jumped about 11 foot high and that was decent.
TC: [laughs] Yeah okay. I had to give it a little go.
Up next, let’s hear (or read) from the birthday boy, Hugo Lloris.
Next: Hugo Lloris
Goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris
Spurs TV: With a happy man, Hugo Lloris. Hugo, it doesn’t get better than days like this does it? A 3-0 win, clean sheet, and 30,000 people singing happy birthday to you.
Hugo Lloris: Yeah, thank you. Yes it is a perfect day. A perfect day for me and I wanted to thank all my mates and all the fans for this day. Because you know, it’s never easy when you leave home because you leave your children, you leave your wife and it’s your birthday and you go to a football game.
But it was a great game. And I’m really happy with the performance first and with the results. We are in a good way and now we need to rest becasuse Monday will be a tough game, a great game to enjoy and to win.
STV: Tell us about the game Hugo because we started a little bit slow. I mean Norwich were good weren’t they to start out with but once we got into our rhythm we really dominated didn’t we?
HL: I think a bit like Southampton. We had the first 15-20 minutes we were a bit sloppy. We drive too much the ball and so we didn’t create a lot of space. And unfortunately we walked a bit actually yesterday and the first 20 minutes we could not set up on the pitch. But after that we got confidence in the game and we put our game on and we were rewarded with this penalty and after that it made it easier on our game.
STV: Okay, I mean, we haven’t got long to think about it, it’s Watford next. You’ve got 48 hours. They’ve joined at Chelsea today. They’re a good side aren’t they Hugo?
HL: Yeah it’s a really good team. They work as a team. It will be a tough game at Watford. So now we need to be focused on our rest and our recovery. We need everyone involved, but if we keep the same mentality we will have a great performance over there. But as I said, it’s a tough game and we need everyone at 100 percent.
STV: They’ve got two strikers you’ll have to keep an eye on.
HL: Yes. They are similar. They look like the team, they work hard for the team. They are good offensively/defensively. So it will be 90-95 minutes of high intensity. But I think it’s a great test, I think. A great opportunity, you know. During this period we have to enjoy and the fans they have to feel it. They have to feel the players enjoying on the pitch and we will to try our best as usual and we hope to get a good result.
Next, it’s the Man of the Match, Harry Kane.
Next: Harry Kane
Striker, Harry Kane
Spurs TV: Okay Harry’s here. Harry, two goals fanta– I mean the second goal was a fantastic finish. Tell us about the game first of all.
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Harry Kane: Yeah very solid performance I thought. Obviously getting the goal midway through the first half helped. And then I thought we just grew into the game from there and we really put our foot down and made it tough for Norwich.
And then obviously we got the second, and then come out second half, I thought we came out and created chances; could have had the third quite early on. But, they never really looked like creating too many chances to be fair. So overall it was a very good performance.
STV: There will be one man that I’m sure you are as delighted for as anyone else. Tom, what a goal that was for his first Premier League goal.
HK: Yeah. I’m delighted for him. He fully deserves it. He’s been training hard, he’s been sticking at it. And you’ll get your rewards. He came on and made the difference, he killed the game for us. So, players come off the bench, have to make an impact and he did that today. So we’re all delighted for him.
STV: And of course you already know that feels like. You’ve now got 49 goals for us. I think you’re up to 27 for the calendar year — we believe is a Spurs record. We’ll look it up for you. 13 for the season, stack it up now mate.
HK: Yeah, yeah. No, definitely. I think… I just want to keep going. Obviously just trying to take one game at a time. I don’t try to think about, obviously the records or things like that. It’s been a great year, there’s still one more game left in the year. Important game on Monday. And then hopefully 2016 is even better.
STV: Next up, Watford. What are your thoughts currently?
HK: It’s going to be a tough game. Watford have been great, they’ve got good results, they’re facing Chelsea away today, they’ve picked up good results in the recent weeks and they’re very good at home. So it’s going to be a tough one but we’re looking forward to it with, obviously a lot of confidence. So we’re going to go there and get the three points.
And finally, here’s the manager, Mauricio Pochettino.
Next: Mauricio Pochettino
Manager, Mauricio Pochettino
Spurs TV: Mauricio’s here. Mauricio, 3-0 against Norwich and as soon as we got ahead it was a fantastic performance wasn’t it?
MP: Yes it was a fantastic performance. I’m very pleased. Only the first 15 minutes were difficult and you know, but Norwich were more aggressive than us. But in the end I think that we fully deserved the victory and very pleased for our players.
STV: You often talk about maturity of the team. Does a performance like this today show that, when Norwich have started so well but then we come back and win 3-0?
MP: Yes it’s true. I think against Southampton and now we show a very mature performance. This is very important for us, to believe in the way that we play and to feel that we are strong and can manage the game when we’re in a positive result. And yes only now to congratulate to the players and I think it was a fantastic performance. Now to keep working hard and to be ready for the next game against Watford on Monday.
STV: When you’ve got players like Harry, who can sco– the second goal. When he scores like that across the goalkeeper. When you got players like that you can win games can’t you? You can be tired but you can win games.
MP: Yes. I think that when you have some players… but I think all deserve. All deserve. Because to give the ball in this situation I think it’s very important. And you need to work hard like a team and for that, a person with the skills to show their real quality. But we need to feel proud for all the players for all the team, the squad. And we have a very strong squad. And this is the most important thing, not only to praise the individual.
STV: I think one of the best things Mauricio is in the 89th minute, we’re 3-0 up. We’ve got a game coming on Monday. The players are bang bang bang, they’re still chasing and chasing.
MP: It’s true that when the players enjoy the game on the pitch it’s difficult to stop them and say ‘No, we to keep energy for the next game’ and I think it’s always easy to recover the energy when you are on a positive run. And only now it’s to rest and to recover and prepare the game in the best condition for Monday and take the good decision for Monday.
STV: Okay so it’s Watford next on Monday, 48 hours to be ready. I mean what do the players do now between now and Watford?
MP: Tomorrow, training session. And not too much because it is impossible. Only rest and some videos, clips about how we need to improve our game and how we play Watford. And more it’s visual than training on the pitch.
STV: And Watford they’ve drew two-all at Chelsea today and they’re having a very good season aren’t they?
MP: Yes Watford so far have shown very good quality, good players. They work very hard like a team and congratulate them. And Quique Sánchez Flores is a good friend and all of his staff because of the show that has been done is been fantastic.
STV: I was gonna ask you about Flores. You actually know him well, yeah?
MP: Yes. We know very well; him and all the staff. And yes we have a very good relationship and it’s good to see him on Monday.
Next: Tottenham Continue Their Goal Scoring Form
And with all four transcripts finished, that is all for this latest edition of Conversation Corner. The next one will after Monday’s game against Watford. So be sure to check back a day or two following the game to read what Tottenham’s players and manager have to say.