Final reflections from Toby
Toby Alderweireld has just about seen it all in 13 years in football. Titles and Champions League Final defeats. 107 caps for Belgium and a World Cup semi-final loss.
Highs and lows - and the latest low on football’s rollercoaster of emotions came via Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final at Wembley. Toby was outstanding alongside Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris in keeping Manchester City at bay for 82 minutes, when our resistance was finally broken by Aymeric Laporte and there was no way back.
For a squad with 11 players who have played over 200 games for the Club, many of whom featured in the 2015 League Cup Final against Chelsea, including Interim Head Coach, Ryan Mason, and for everyone of a Spurs persuasion, it was another tough one to take.
“I felt for the team and the fans and, yes, it was very, very disappointing,” reflected Toby back at Hotspur Way on Thursday, now preparing for Sheffield United at home in the Premier League on Sunday (7.15pm).
“I just had a feeling, even if we didn’t play our best game, and we came up against an unbelievable opponent, we have to accept that, but there were moments through luck, bravery, good performances when it’s 0-0 and you’re thinking, ‘maybe this is our day’.
“The Club, especially the fans, deserve a trophy. If you see the last few years, okay, it’s still not enough, but we got to the Champions League Final, two League Cup Finals.
“I really believe... and it happened to me at Ajax, where they hadn’t won the league for six years, but when got there, we won three in a row (Toby left for Atletico Madrid in 2013, Ajax made it four). I just think if we win the first one, we’ll go from there. Sometimes you just need one and the rest will follow. I felt so bad we didn’t win it on Sunday.”
Toby took us into the dressing room. “It was tough. We didn’t really talk, everyone was upset, disappointed. I’ve won trophies in my career at Ajax, in Spain as well, but I’ve lost two Champions League Finals and I really, really want to win something with Spurs.
“Sunday was an opportunity, and finals don’t just come along every year. I understand it’s not enough, but what more can I say? I just think some of the criticism the Club gets is unfair. We gave our all. We left everything on the pitch.”
