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Pierluigi Gollini explains why Tottenham fans should be excited about 'perfect' Cristian Romero
The goalkeeper has been speaking about his Spurs and Atalanta team-mate who he believes will take the Premier League by storm
By
Alasdair GoldTottenham Hotspur correspondent
Pierluigi Gollini believes that Cristian Romero will be "perfect" for Tottenham Hotspur and the Premier League but he will need to adapt first.
Both players joined Tottenham from Serie A side Atalanta during the transfer window on loan deals, both with the expectation that they will join permanently before the end of next summer.
Gollini has been featuring in cup matches for Spurs while Romero has made his first back-to-back starts this week following a difficult month.
Romero made the decision, along with Argentina team-mate Giovani Lo Celso and Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez, to represent their countries on international duty despite the government's red listing of South American countries meaning they would have to isolate for 10 days before returning to the club.
The trio spent those 10 days in Croatia, missing two Spurs matches in which the club struggled.
Gollini, who was called up by Italy and did not have to isolate, admitted it was a tough spot for Romero.
"It's not easy, you know. There are a lot of things... If I put myself in his position and the other South American guys, it's very hard," he said.
"From one side, you don't want to let your teammates down and your team, but at the same time, always for a player you know how much it means to play for your country.
"It's the biggest thing and you don't want to let your country down. So it was very difficult for them.
"I think the Premier League should solve this with FIFA. They should find an agreement that's clear for everybody and for everybody is the same, because it was a big problem, it affected us a lot not having three players like them available.
"Especially when you add this to injury, it makes it very difficult. So for him it's not been easy, but he's a good guy. A clever guy. A very, very tough guy.
"Obviously it's not been easy because he didn't have enough time to spend here because of spending time with the national team, and also he's got a little problem with his knee, but he's going to be good.
"He's learning the Premier League but he already knows the game. So he'll be fine and very good."
Romero was named Serie A's Defender of the Year last season and Gollini believes the Spurs fans should be excited about the centre-back the club have signed.
"This guy is an animal, I swear. He's perfect for the Premier League," he said. "He's played for many years with three at the back and especially when you play with a very aggressive style and play man for man, it's a completely different to thing to in a four.
"You have to work and defend more like a group, a group of four and defend more the zone and less the man. So he needs to adjust and he will do it because he's a clever guy and an amazing player.
"He will, but obviously all these things need time. Everybody needs time to adapt, to adjust to a new culture and a new country.
"There's a lot of things going on. It's not easy. People from the outside sometimes don't see how many things change in people's lives when they change country. It's normal. He needs a little bit of time but he will be amazing."
Tottenham got their positive momentum back on Wednesday night with a penalty shoot-out win at Wolves in the Carabao Cup third round after a 2-2 draw.
Gollini played his part with a save in the shoot-out, having got a hand to an earlier penalty.
"Yeah, of course [it was a big moment]. Keepers live for these moments. This is our chance to be a hero," he said.
"The guys can score, they can make the winning goal, but when it comes to penalties, it's the keeper's chance. I was very determined to make an impact in this match and help my team win the game.
"I was very upset I didn't save the first one and said to myself you've got to save the next one. I couldn't let it go. It was too hard for myself to lose if I hadn't saved that penalty so I knew I had to save the next one."
Gollini could be spotted studying Wolves' penalty takers on a tablet in the dugout before the shoot-out began and the team worked on their kicks in training at Hotspur Way ahead of the game.
"Yeah, we did [our homework] yesterday. We tried," he said. "My teammates were shooting very well and I looked at all the Wolves players and I practically knew where all of them would go. Well, all of the ones that would probably shoot. I looked at like eight ot nine penalties."
Up next on Sunday is the north London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and Gollini is aware of the immense rivalry.
"I know it's the main game for our fans. In Italy, we have a special feeling for the derby," he explained.
"I played a few derbies in Italy and I know how much it means for the Spurs fans to win against Arsenal.
"It's our biggest rivalry and hopefully we're going to win away, have a great game and a great Sunday."
Gollini is hoping that the positive momentum from the shoot-out win kicks the team back in the right direction after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
more here:
https://www.football.london/tottenh...gollini-romero-tottenham-wolves-nuno-21652418
The goalkeeper has been speaking about his Spurs and Atalanta team-mate who he believes will take the Premier League by storm
By
Alasdair GoldTottenham Hotspur correspondent
- 12:00, 23 SEP 2021
Pierluigi Gollini believes that Cristian Romero will be "perfect" for Tottenham Hotspur and the Premier League but he will need to adapt first.
Both players joined Tottenham from Serie A side Atalanta during the transfer window on loan deals, both with the expectation that they will join permanently before the end of next summer.
Gollini has been featuring in cup matches for Spurs while Romero has made his first back-to-back starts this week following a difficult month.
Romero made the decision, along with Argentina team-mate Giovani Lo Celso and Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez, to represent their countries on international duty despite the government's red listing of South American countries meaning they would have to isolate for 10 days before returning to the club.
The trio spent those 10 days in Croatia, missing two Spurs matches in which the club struggled.
Gollini, who was called up by Italy and did not have to isolate, admitted it was a tough spot for Romero.
"It's not easy, you know. There are a lot of things... If I put myself in his position and the other South American guys, it's very hard," he said.
"From one side, you don't want to let your teammates down and your team, but at the same time, always for a player you know how much it means to play for your country.
"It's the biggest thing and you don't want to let your country down. So it was very difficult for them.
"I think the Premier League should solve this with FIFA. They should find an agreement that's clear for everybody and for everybody is the same, because it was a big problem, it affected us a lot not having three players like them available.
"Especially when you add this to injury, it makes it very difficult. So for him it's not been easy, but he's a good guy. A clever guy. A very, very tough guy.
"Obviously it's not been easy because he didn't have enough time to spend here because of spending time with the national team, and also he's got a little problem with his knee, but he's going to be good.
"He's learning the Premier League but he already knows the game. So he'll be fine and very good."
Romero was named Serie A's Defender of the Year last season and Gollini believes the Spurs fans should be excited about the centre-back the club have signed.
"This guy is an animal, I swear. He's perfect for the Premier League," he said. "He's played for many years with three at the back and especially when you play with a very aggressive style and play man for man, it's a completely different to thing to in a four.
"You have to work and defend more like a group, a group of four and defend more the zone and less the man. So he needs to adjust and he will do it because he's a clever guy and an amazing player.
"He will, but obviously all these things need time. Everybody needs time to adapt, to adjust to a new culture and a new country.
"There's a lot of things going on. It's not easy. People from the outside sometimes don't see how many things change in people's lives when they change country. It's normal. He needs a little bit of time but he will be amazing."
Tottenham got their positive momentum back on Wednesday night with a penalty shoot-out win at Wolves in the Carabao Cup third round after a 2-2 draw.
Gollini played his part with a save in the shoot-out, having got a hand to an earlier penalty.
"Yeah, of course [it was a big moment]. Keepers live for these moments. This is our chance to be a hero," he said.
"The guys can score, they can make the winning goal, but when it comes to penalties, it's the keeper's chance. I was very determined to make an impact in this match and help my team win the game.
"I was very upset I didn't save the first one and said to myself you've got to save the next one. I couldn't let it go. It was too hard for myself to lose if I hadn't saved that penalty so I knew I had to save the next one."
Gollini could be spotted studying Wolves' penalty takers on a tablet in the dugout before the shoot-out began and the team worked on their kicks in training at Hotspur Way ahead of the game.
"Yeah, we did [our homework] yesterday. We tried," he said. "My teammates were shooting very well and I looked at all the Wolves players and I practically knew where all of them would go. Well, all of the ones that would probably shoot. I looked at like eight ot nine penalties."
Up next on Sunday is the north London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and Gollini is aware of the immense rivalry.
"I know it's the main game for our fans. In Italy, we have a special feeling for the derby," he explained.
"I played a few derbies in Italy and I know how much it means for the Spurs fans to win against Arsenal.
"It's our biggest rivalry and hopefully we're going to win away, have a great game and a great Sunday."
Gollini is hoping that the positive momentum from the shoot-out win kicks the team back in the right direction after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
more here:
https://www.football.london/tottenh...gollini-romero-tottenham-wolves-nuno-21652418