Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier believes the team will find it hard to discard their ‘Spursy’ choker tag
As quoted by the Daily Star, Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier said that the team would find it difficult to shake off their choker tag even if they finished above arch-rivals Arsenal and clinched fourth place in the Premier League table this term.
Spurs currently sit fourth in the points tally, two points above the Gunners. They are in the driving seat to secure Champions League football next season, although this could yet change on the final day of the campaign.
Dier, however, said that no matter what happens and in spite of the incredible highs that the club has managed to achieve in the last six or seven years, their choker tag of being ‘Spursy’ will come back after a certain result and that it will always be there.
“In the last six or seven years, the time I’ve been here, we’ve had incredible highs where the club has never been before. And then two days later that (Spursy) will come back after a certain result. It will always be there.”
The jibe arises from the context of the final day of the 2005-06 season, when the Lilywhites failed to secure UCL qualification over Arsenal. Their north London rivals managed to pip them to fourth spot after the Tottenham players came down with food poisoning and lost to West Ham United.
“You try to maintain an emotional consistency”
This time around, Spurs are due to play Norwich City away while the Gunners take on Everton at home. A draw against the Canaries may be enough to see Antonio Conte’s side secure the last Champions League spot, given their superior goal difference over Arsenal.
Dier said that despite being associated with choking, the squad had learned not to get too down in those moments and maintain emotional consistency. He referred to a loss last season against Crystal Palace, saying that the players learned from that experience and moved on.
“I think we learned from that, where results felt like the end of the world and looking at the table was scary. You try to maintain an emotional consistency, not get too down in those moments because things change. You have to believe they will because they do in the Premier League more than any other.”
Dier is now one of the senior-most members of the squad, having been part of the club since 2014 after coming through the ranks at Sporting CP. The PL side have given him a platform to build on, with the player becoming an England international since.
The 28-year-old has seen Tottenham go through some real lows since his debut, with the club losing the league title to Leicester City. They also lost a couple of League Cup finals as well as the Champions League summit clash in the recent past.
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However, with a serial winner like Conte at the helm and a group of players that seem to be improving slowly under him, Dier seems to be of the opinion that things are looking up for Spurs. The first step to confirming that feeling is to beat Norwich and make sure there are no more slip-ups.
The north London side have lived in Arsenal’s shadow for too long in terms of recent trophies won, but that could all change soon. If Conte and Dier are able to deliver next season, then the ‘Spursy’ tag may perhaps no longer be relevant.
