Over the course of the recently concluded season, Kieran Trippier was one of Tottenham Hotspur’s better players. The departure of Kyle Walker created a void in the first-team and despite Serge Aurier’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, Trippier managed to make the right-back role his own.
In the initial stages of the season, Mauricio Pochettino seemingly preferred playing Aurier but after a slew of disappointing performances, our gaffer chose to utilise Trippier more often.
The Englishman repaid Pochettino’s faith as he delivered some brilliant performances and ended up playing a key role for us as we finished third in the Premier League. Now, it goes without saying that Trippier will continue being an instrumental part of our team in the upcoming campaign as well.
Currently preparing for the World Cup with England, Trippier will be aware of the rising competition for the right-back role at Spurs. There is, of course, Aurier and he will be looking to improve his performances. However, we also have Kyle Walker-Peters, who is yet to make his place permanent in the first-team. Nevertheless, he is a youngster with tremendous potential.
Trippier seemed to recognise that and in an interview with Tottenham’s official website, he acknowledged his competitors but also heaped praises upon them. As quoted by Football.London, the defender said:
“My mindset was to try to play week in, week out and when Kyle [Walker] left it was about getting my head down, getting a good pre-season under my belt and trying to make that spot my own.
“Serge came in, I knew all about him and what he’s all about as a player, an excellent footballer, and you need that competition.
“So when Serge came in it was a motivation for me and I don’t want to leave Kyle Walker-Peters out of this either, he’s been excellent, has a great attitude and a great future.”
Trippier went on to praise the team’s dynamic as he added that there are no egos in the dressing room and that all the players work together as a team.
It is great to see this kind of friendship between the players off the field and as far as the young Walker-Peters is concerned, let’s hope he gets a chance to make a mark in the first-team next term.
