Lucas happy with another fast start

Could it be an omen? This time last year, Lucas Moura scored twice as we opened our account in the 2018 International Champions Cup (ICC) with an impressive win against Italian opposition, AS Roma.

For San Diego, read Singapore. For Roma, read Juventus. On Sunday, Lucas was on target again in this year’s ICC opener as we toppled the Serie A champions 3-2 at the Singapore National Stadium.

As we all know, Lucas went from strength to strength last season. He scored his first Premier League goal for us in the second game of the season against Fulham and followed up with a double in a memorable 3-0 win against United at Old Trafford. Those performances earned him the EA SPORTS Player of the Month accolade for August.

It didn’t end there as the popular Brazilian went on to score 15 goals in all competitions, including a never-to-be-forgotten hat-trick and last-minute winner at Ajax to take us into the Champions League Final.

Just over seven weeks on from Madrid and Lucas is doing it again, this time the equaliser via new signing Tanguy Ndombele’s sublime assist – his first touch as a Spurs player – as we came from 2-1 down to beat Juve in spectacular style with Harry Kane’s late, late winner from the halfway line.

“It’s true, last season I scored in the first game and now I’ve scored again, I’m so happy,” he said. “It’s important to score, to help my team-mates and I hope at the end of the season we win a trophy because I believe we can and that’s our objective.

“What a start from Tanguy! I’m very happy. He’s a great player, I’m sure he will help us and that we will be stronger this season.”

Over 50,000 fans were treated to a cracker in Singapore as we initially led 1-0 through Erik Lamela, then fell behind at the start of the second half, only to hit back again.

“What a game! What an atmosphere!” beamed Lucas. “We played against a very good team and did really well. I’m so proud of my team-mates.

“We are working very hard in this pre-season and it’s very good to start like this with a victory against Juve. We need to keep working. I’m happy to score one goal to help the team. That’s the way.

“The fans here are unbelievable and the country is amazing. We need to enjoy this – the training, the games – and prepare well because the season will be very hard.”