Friday, 22nd August, 2014
Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has backed Erik Lamela to come good this season at the club.
The Argentine forward played a key role in Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Limassol last night in Cyprus in the first leg of their playoff tie in the Europa League.
The 22-year-old joined the north London side from Roma last summer for a reported fee of £25.7m, but only made nine league appearances last term.
He made his fourth league start since joining the club in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over West Ham last weekend.
However, Pochettino has backed his compatriot to prove his detractors wrong this season.
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"He was very disappointed about last season but the past is the past", the 42-year-old was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"It is never easy in the first season for a player from another country.
"He was injured, too, and we are confident that with time and hard work, like he has done in pre-season, he can go far.”
The former Saints manager feels that Lamela needs to develop self-belief and added that the forward needs to back himself to do well this season.
"We need him to look forward, believe in his skill and condition and work very, very hard.
"With confidence and time he will show his value."
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