Cristian Stellini praises Oliver Skipp after Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea
Oliver Skipp picked the perfect time to score his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur’s senior side, doing so in his 67th appearance across competitions.
He netted a screamer in the 46th minute to hand us an early lead against Chelsea in the second half earlier today (26 February). Harry Kane’s 82nd-minute goal sealed the 2-0 scoreline and three points.
We are now in a strong position in fourth place, leading fifth-placed Newcastle United by five points, although the Magpies have two games in hand. Check out all the latest Tottenham live scores, results and match reports.
Skipp has been patient and hasn’t let his injury issues affect his mentality.
He was injured in January last year which ruled him out for the season. Then, a freak injury in pre-season training sidelined him for the start of the season.
Skipp has his moment
The Englishman was kept in N17 by manager Antonio Conte while big names such as Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks departed on season-long loan spells.
Speaking after the game against Chelsea, assistant manager Cristian Stellini revealed that Conte’s coaching staff has been impressed by Skipp since the moment they arrived at the club. He said (h/t Football.London):
“Since we arrived here, Skippy surprised us in that moment. In January last season we lost Skippy for a long time, the rest of the season and when Skippy start this season he was not fit very well but he worked hard.
“He is a great guy who work 100 per cent every day. He needed time and the opportunity. When he had the opportunity, he showed to everyone the way and the confidence he has in himself. This confidence came from the work he does every day.”
A season-ending injury to Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma’s fitness issues recently has given Skipp an extended run in Stellini’s senior side. Many worried if the 22-year-old could hold his own in midfield alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
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The performance against the west London outfit should assuage a major chunk of those fears.
