Tanguy debut goal exclusive: ‘I couldn’t ask for more’

Tanguy Ndombele described the “perfect” set of circumstances that saw him mark his Premier League debut with a crucial goal at our new stadium on Saturday.

Trailing to newly-promoted Aston Villa on the first day of the 2019/20 campaign we pushed for a leveller in the second period, forcing a succession of corners but without finding a way past the visitors’ newly-signed keeper Tom Heaton.

However, with 73 minutes on the clock, step forward our own new signing!

A summer arrival from French side Lyon, midfielder Tanguy – who had come straight in to start – strode onto Lucas Moura’s backwards pass just outside the box after Heaton had denied Davinson Sanchez and planted a brilliant shot into the far corner.

It was a crucial strike to get us back on level terms and, with deafening support from the stands spurring us on, it proved the catalyst for our victory as Harry Kane bagged his first two goals in our new home to secure a 3-1 triumph and ensure a winning start to the new season – just the way we like it!

“It was a tough period in the game, we needed to score,” reflected Tanguy afterwards. “I'm happy with this goal because when I scored it was 1-1 and that gave us more energy to come back in the game and try to win. We did it at the end and that's why I feel very proud.

“It was a great goal! I'm not someone who normally shoots a lot but this time the ball came and I had a chance so I did it, I got it on target and I scored so that's perfect!

“I'm very happy with my first goal but the most important thing was to win today's first game of the season. We did it and I'm very happy with that.”

Having co-incidentally also scored on his last appearance for Lyon on the final day of last season, Tanguy went on to explain how the whole day from start to finish played out to perfection.

“It's a very good day for me because if I look backwards at where I've come from, to be here today making my Premier League debut is something special,” he added. “To play in this amazing stadium with some great players and to have the opportunity to score my first goal, everything was perfect and we won the game. I couldn't ask for more than that, that's why I'm happy and now I hope we can have more success all together.”