Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente has revealed the history behind the relationship he shares with Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino played a key role in convincing the striker to join Tottenham from Swansea in the summer despite Chelsea’s interest in the Spaniard, which began in the January window.
And Llorente admits that the Tottenham boss was important in him making the decision to join Spurs and he further added that he has had a long association with Pochettino.
The striker made his senior club debut against Espanyol when Pochettino was still playing for the Catalan club and the two squared off a number of times while Llorente was leading the line for Athletic Bilbao and the Argentine was coaching the Blanquiazules.
Llorente is happy to be working under the Argentine finally at Tottenham and is keen to contribute to the club’s success and growth in the coming seasons.
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The 32-year-old told Mundo Deportivo: “Pochettino has been very important, no doubt.
“I've known him since I was in Spain.
"It’s a nice anecdote as I made my debut against him at San Mames.
"He was at the end of his career and I was just starting out.
“There he coached Espanyol and I was a player for Athletic and we faced each other several times.
“I am now under him at Tottenham and I really want to give my best and contribute in my own little way.”
Llorente came on for the last few minutes in Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night at Wembley.
