Japhet Tanganga is very aware of the importance of today’s encounter with Newcastle.
A win over the Magpies in this afternoon’s clash at St James’ Park would be enough to take up into the Champions League qualification places and Japhet believes the game offers the players the opportunity to show just how much they want to be back in European Football’s elite club competition.
“It's very big,” the full-back stated as he looked ahead to facing Newcastle. “After the win against Villa, that took us a little closer, and it's an opportunity for us today to go out and show we want to get Champions League football.”
Despite having come through most of his youth career as a central defender, Jose Mourinho has deployed Japhet predominantly at right-back this season – a position the England Under-21 international has flourished in. He is back there again today and is determined to repay Jose’s faith in him once more.
The 22-year-old continued, “As a young player, you just want to play, you want to get as many games as you can and if that's the position the gaffer selects me and trusts me, I've got to grasp that opportunity, show the manager that he's doing the right thing by giving me that opportunity.”