MX23RW : Friday, November 8 21:06:27| >> :120:7513:7513:

Japhet Tanganga insists he was not scared of making debut against Liverpool

Japhet Tanganga insists he was not scared of making debut against Liverpool
© Reuters
The 20-year-old centre-back was a surprise selection against the champions elect.

Tottenham debutant Japhet Tanganga has revealed he told Jose Mourinho he was not scared by the prospect of making his Premier League bow against Liverpool.

The 20-year-old centre-back was a surprise selection against the champions elect as, having only played a League Cup tie for Spurs earlier this season, he was thrown in at right-back.

He produced a performance to remember, keeping Sadio Mane quiet, but ended up on the losing side as Roberto Firmino's first-half goal kept Liverpool's unbeaten season in tact.

Spurs have had a full week on the training ground and Tanganga was asked by Mourinho whether he would be scared to face the Reds.

"The gaffer mentioned something on Tuesday. He asked me if I want to play, I said 'Yeah', he said 'You won't be scared?', I said 'No, I won't be scared'," Tanganga revealed.

"Then we did a bit of shape two or three days before the game and I thought, 'Yeah I'm in the team'.

"The boys have been excellent, cheering me on, encouraging me and letting me know it is just another game.

"As much as it is my debut, as much as I am playing against probably the best team in the league right now, it doesn't matter.

"They were just great, I am grateful for the manager having trust in me."

Spurs put up a fight in the second half and should have earned a point but Son Heung-min and Giovani Lo Celso missed big chances.

It is a day that Tanganga will always remember, but admits it is "bittersweet".

"I was happy to make my debut but I really thought we could have nicked something at the end of the game. Maybe a draw, maybe a win," he added on Spurs TV.

"It means a lot. It means a lot, from young you dream about it, you see guys on TV and you think, 'I want that'.

"It would have been much better if we had won the game, but I am happy to make my debut.

"I have made my debut now, but it has gone now. I will celebrate with my family and then it is on to the next one."

Team-mate Toby Alderweireld, one of Europe's top defenders, thinks the youngster has a big future.

"He showed with the high step up that he can cope," he said. "He's 20 years old. He's a guy who has a good head as well, he knows what he's doing, he's trying to improve and that's the most important thing.

"He has to go from here but he can be very happy with his performance."

Firmino's ninth Premier League goal of the season won the day for Liverpool as they have now taken 61 points from a possible 63 – the best ever start to a campaign in any of the top five European leagues.

Roberto Firmino apologised to Jurgen Klopp
Roberto Firmino apologised to Jurgen Klopp (John Walton/PA)

Although Spurs made life difficult in the second half, it could have been wrapped up had Jurgen Klopp's men been more clinical.

And Klopp revealed that the Brazilian's first words at full-time were apologetic ones.

"When I went to him and wanted to give him a hug after the game, he wanted to stop and talk first," Klopp explained.

"He said, 'I know I should have scored more goals'... it was absolutely not what I wanted to say.

"It is true probably, but I didn't even know exactly. He should have immediately with the first chance: it was brilliant play and then he hits somehow the defender.

"Yes, [he is] a super player, super. I don't say this for the first time and will hopefully not say it for the last time. Pretty impressive."

ID:385848: cacheID:385848:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8729:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho with Harry Kane as he goes off injured on January 1, 2020
Read Next:
Mourinho refuses to bemoan absence of "irreplaceable" Kane
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!