Pochettino expecting 'unbelievable' Sanchez to adapt quickly

Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez has made a big impression on new coach Mauricio Pochettino since joining and is expected to adapt well.

Published : Aug 26, 2017 18:34 IST

Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic about a quick adaptation to life at Tottenham for new club-record signing Davinson Sanchez because "he's unbelievable".

The Colombian defender joined Spurs from Ajax in a deal costing an initial €40million, making the 21-year-old the fifth most expensive defender in history.

Sanchez only spent one season in the Netherlands after leaving Atletico Nacional and Pochettino sees parallels with his own journey into European football, when he left Newell's Old Boys for Espanyol as a 22-year-old.

Pochettino is confident Sanchez is well-equipped to adapt quickly at Tottenham because he did precisely that at Ajax.

He told reporters ahead of Sunday's visit of Burnley: "From America, you come to Europe, you don't know what you will find here. But him, he's unbelievable.

"He speaks very good English, and from day one when he arrived I think he is like all the players here. Yes, he is very welcome with the team-mates and he is one of us.

"It was difficult at the beginning, [but he has] all the characteristics for success here.

"First of all, it [the challenge] is to adapt yourself. I moved with my wife, we were not scared, but you are waiting because you don't know.

"When he arrived at Ajax from the beginning he showed his quality, started to show his character and personality. I think he was the best player on Ajax in his first season.

"That showed that he is a player with big character and personality, and with a lot of potential."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment