Llorente reflects on his 'wonderful' spell at Spurs
Fernando Llorente reflects on his "wonderful" two-year spell at Spurs.
Fernando Llorente has an affinity with his two-year spell in lilywhite.
After hanging up his boots on an 18-year career in February, which included a World Cup and European Championship with Spain, multiple trophies in Italy with Juventus and Napoli and a Europa League with Sevilla, Fernando has very fond memories of his time with us between 2017 and 2019.
When we signed the Spanish striker from Swansea City in August, 2017, his decorated past added vital experience to our attacking ranks as back-up to Harry Kane but it was his impact on our run to the Champions League final in 2019 that confirmed his cult hero status at the Club.
“They were two wonderful years for me,” said the Spaniard. “It was huge for me to play at Spurs, I was very impressed to see at first-hand the size of the Club: the training facilities, the hotel, the new pitch - even though that I spent my season and a half playing at Wembley - and the end of my second year playing at the new ground.
“I’m very proud of everything that I achieved, they were two of the best years in my career. Similarly, with what I felt at Juventus, you feel the size of these huge clubs when you join. Playing at the highest level in the Champions League and reaching the final - few players or clubs can say that they reached that level of football.”
Meteoric moment in Manchester
Everything clicked for our former striker on our road to Madrid. It all began with an assist against PSV Einhoven in the group stage and continued with vital goals in knockout ties against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.
“I’m proud of that season and being able to have played a part in creating memories for the fans,” added Fernando. “At the start of that season, I wasn’t playing much but I knew that I had to give my all during training and be the best I could be if the opportunity arose for me to play.
“Coming off the bench all you want to do is impact the match positively. We were 1-0 down to PSV and I was able to set up Harry Kane to score the equaliser. Against Dortmund I had a few minutes on the pitch but managed to score the third goal from a corner which proved to be important because the return leg at Dortmund was very tough. We weren’t at our best in that match and that advantage we brought from the first match served us well."
Then came his seminal moment for us in a crazy quarter-final second leg at the Etihad. An injury to Moussa Sissoko five minutes before half-time saw him introduced with us trailing 3-2 on the night but 3-3 on aggregate, leading on away goals after our 1-0 win in the first leg. Sergio Aguero’s second half strike put us behind in the tie for the first time before the Spaniard diverted in Kieran Trippier’s cross to make it 4-4 on aggregate, sending us through on away goals.
“The goal that most fans remember me for was the quarter-final goal I scored in Manchester,” Fernando said. “The match against City was an explosion of emotion! Things that don’t normally happen during a match created so much excitement and entertainment, 20 minutes in and there had been five goals! The score was jumping to and fro, with each side taking the lead then giving it away. There was a period where we thought we were dominating the match and then would get a goal and turn the tide of the match.
“When Sissoko was injured and I was chosen to be substituted on, moments like these are never easy when entering such a high-intensity match off the bench as it can be hard to adjust and meet the rhythm of the match. You don’t have the time to do an intense warm-up on the touchline and before you know it you are in the thick of this spectacle. I think that I was able to read the game well and I scored the all-important goal to get us through to the next round. I’m very happy to have this moment.”
Watch - Manchester City 4-3 Spurs (4-4 aggregate)
Watch the highlights of our 4-3 Champions League quarter-final second-leg defeat to Manchester City in April, 2019
Golden touch against Ajax
His contributions on our European campaign didn't end there. After trailing 1-0 from the semi-final first leg against Ajax, we found ourselves 3-0 behind on aggregate in the away leg in Amsterdam when Fernando came on for Victor Wanyama at half-time. However, Lucas Moura gave us hope with a quick-fire brace midway through the second half before the Spaniard played his part in the build-up to Moura's hat-trick deep into stoppage time that took us through to the final.
"After the first-half of the second leg we were losing 2-0 and in the break we thought that was it," added Fernando. "We were out. I was made aware that I’d be coming off the bench and wanted to make a difference anyway I could.
"When I came on the lads went long to find me so I could hold the ball up and get our attack into the game more. It felt at times that we wouldn’t find that third goal but when it went in. Oh my word! We couldn’t believe the comeback we had achieved together. It was incredible and a moment I’ll never forget. A marvellous memory.
"I’m very proud of everything that I achieved at Spurs. We reached a height that wasn’t expected of us but there will always be a part of me that regrets not going the whole way and winning the Champions League. Spurs is a club that deserves those titles and their supporters even more so - they were always so brilliant with me."