Three years ago Érik Lamela joined Tottenham, and since the start of the 2014-15 season, he has become one of Spurs’ best players.
It has been 18 months since Érik Lamela has blossomed with Tottenham. The Argentine winger’s debut season during the 2013-14 campaign was cut short due to a back injury, limiting him to 16 appearances.
in total, Lamela would be sidelined from December 29 until the opening day of the 2014-15 season against West Ham United at Upton Park. With the Argentinian now healthy, Mauricio Pochettino would have his right winger of the present and future.
Two years ago Érik Lamela appeared in 46 games, scored five goals and had 10 assists in all competitions. On top of that, Lamela made 25 starts in the Premier League. This would be his first full season in his second year.
There were glimpses of what Lamela could do when healthy and a consistent starter on Pochettino’s team. The following season, Érik Lamela would make 44 appearances, tally 11 goals and register 10 assists in all competitions. He would make 28 league starts to cap off another successful season with Spurs, becoming a consistent player for Tottenham.
With the 2016-17 season well underway, the 24-year-old looks back on his time with the North London club when he first arrived three years ago from AS Roma.
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“At the beginning it was very tough, arriving in England, another style of football, another country, another language,” said Lamela (via Spurs’ official website).
“I was injured for a long time as well. That was difficult. I played for three months but then I was injured for seven months.”
“That’s football, you need to be strong and keep training.”
“I feel well now. I feel good at the training ground and after training, I go home and it feels like home. That’s important. I’m always focused. I’m happy and that helps on the pitch.”
Minus two injuries in back-to-back seasons (back, 2013-14; calf, 2014-15), Érik Lamela has been mostly healthy and because of that the Argentine winger can play good football as well as stay in top form. Something that as mentioned above, has been going strong for the past 18 months.
But perhaps what is almost as good as having good form, is how selfless Érik Lamela is. He always puts the team before himself. This is something that Mauricio Pochettino and supporters alike appreciate of the 24-year-old.
Never one to take all the praise for himself if he does well, Lamela will instead deflect all of the accolades he receives and makes sure his teammates get the proper recognition for helping secure wins.
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“I try to do my best every game and if I can’t always play well, I try to run and run and always help the team,” Lamela added. “We always need to show that we want to win.”
“I always look for the team first. If the team wins, I’m happy. If I play well but we don’t get three points, my feeling isn’t good.”
“The most important thing is always to win.”
At just the age of 24, and still a few years left on his current deal, Tottenham will undoubtedly be working on a long-term contract to keep Érik Lamela with Spurs for the foreseeable future.