Like how a phoenix rises supremely from the ashes and spreads itself magnificently, Erik Lamela’s Tottenham career has risen the same way as well. From one of the most talented youths back then when he left his club River Plate, he went on to Roma like a small fish in a big pond, and he rose swiftly and soon a switch to White Hart Lane followed.
What really followed with the lily white in his first season was a disappointing career where the youngster was right away deemed to be overrated and would never adjust to the hustle of the Premier League but just like that, the sensational winger turned it around and from the 2014/2015 season, the Argentinian really delivered.
When times got tough and pressure was mounting, Lamela put in a hard effort and stayed in England amidst heavy interest received. From 2014/2015, Lamela has created 153 chance in 86 appearances and more than establishing himself as someone who scores goals, he has set up himself as someone who can constantly create chances and be an attacking asset.
Today, Lamela is one of the key pieces in Pochettino’s managerial jigsaw and is one of their heralded heroes. In fact, if we dig in deeply statistically Lamela has made 45 key passes behind Eriksen and has tackled the most than any of the members in the backline of Spurs’s except for Kyle Walker. More importantly than anything noticed in the current scenario, it is the work-rate that the guy brings which is perfect for what Pochettino’s expectations are and he has become much more of a team player than what he earlier used to be.
Presently, amidst heavy reports and links from Italy where AC Milan with their new owners and investors have shown interest, Lamela must realize that staying at Tottenham is probably the best choice he will make currently in his career which helps not only Spurs’s best side in the past decade, but it helps him to establish a name and help more in a system where he has worked so hard to fit in.
This season out of 9 appearances, he has created chances double the appearances and his average passing accuracy is absolutely impressive which is 80%. He has won 43% of the average duels and he still stands as probably one of the first names to go into the first level.
Lamela beside the likes of rising stars such as Alli and Son and also established ones like Eriksen has the potential to do something major with this golden Tottenham team and also with a manager that looks hungrier than last season. Well known as middle table in a hugely competitive league, Tottenham have brought themselves unto the world stage fascinatingly and they set out this season to write yet another chapter where they are surfing above their competition knocking down big guns and chasing the title and amidst all this once again, I’d conclude that this is the place where Lamela has to stay for his career and for his future.
