Spurs fans were delighted to hear Jose Mourinho’s comments on Erik Lamela following the 2-1 win over Brighton, as the 27-year-old returned to the Spurs bench.
Lamela has been out injured with a hamstring issue since October but returned to training in the week, and was named on the bench for the Boxing Day fixture. Following the game, Mourinho spoke to the Independent and was full of praise for the Argentinian winger, saying: “Lamela, 57 or 58 days out, trained with the team twice after all that time and he came to me and said, ‘I think you need me because you have injuries or suspension, if you need me for 10-15 minutes I’ll be there’. That sort of thing touches me.” (via Daily Hotspur)
Spurs signed Lamela from Roma in 2013 and the 27-year-old has gone on to make 200 appearances for the North London club in his six years in England. The skillful winger would have perhaps played a lot more however, if he hadn’t struggled with injuries so often in his time at Spurs, with his hamstring injury the latest in a long list of spells on the sidelines.
Will Lamela be an important player for Mourinho?
Yes
No
Reaction from Spurs fans to Mourinho’s Lamela comments can be seen in the tweets below.
“That sort of thing touches me.”
— THFC1976 (@THFCsince76) December 26, 2019
Legend
— adam #stopberxit (@goatbele) December 26, 2019
This is getting it, not staying on the pitch for 10 minutes or fist bumping a few times after someone scores. THIS IS THE COMMITMENT WE NEED.
— Manny (@Mannythfc) December 26, 2019
Love this
— TanguyTekkerz (@Yeti_ProducerUK) December 26, 2019
This is the reason I always love Lamela.
— lre (@lre84038764) December 26, 2019
We miss him
— Buckothelesser (@Buckothelesser) December 27, 2019
Wish I could pull this one at work with my Boss. Offer of 15 minutes work in 2 months that he’s conned best part of 200k.
Lamela is a genius!!!— Justin Stevens (@jstevens123) December 27, 2019
These Spurs fans were clearly impressed with Lamela’s commitment and desire to play, but will be hoping to see him fully fit before he’s back on the pitch for Spurs.
What do we think?
Lamela has been criticised a lot over the past couple of months because of his injury-prone nature, but it seems as if he is trying to get back in the good books of both Mourinho and the fans after his discussion with the manager. He could well be an important player for the Portuguese boss if he can rediscover his early-season form.