Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Pape Matar Sarr has put out his thoughts in an interview with Sky Sports of how his first few months with the Lilywhites has been.
Pape Matar Sarr has had an excellent one-year-and-a-half in his career lifting the African Cup of Nations with Senegal in Cameroon in addition to representing the teranga lions of Senegal at the World Cup.
He also made his first appearance for Tottenham Hotspur. However, in spite of those wonderful achievements, there have also been some low moments.
Pape Matar Sarr revealed that the World Cup in Qatar did not go as he would have loved.
He made just two substitute appearances which was collectively sixty (60) minutes of world cup action under his belt.
Pape Matar Sarr said: “I went there with higher ambitions than what I came back with.”
There has also been discouraging moments at club level too as Sarr met his teammates at Tottenham Hotspur for the first time in the summer of 2022.
Pape Matar Sarr spent his first year after joining Tottenham Hotspur on loan at Metz
He spent his first year under contract at Tottenham Hotspur on loan at French side FC Metz, which happens to be his previous club before he joined Tottenham Hotspur.
But he had to hold on even longer to get his chance with the first team, His first piece of action was a ten-minute cameo appearance on the 1st of January.
He was only given his first start in the FA Cup victory over Portsmouth almost a week later.
Asked why his first team appearance with Tottenham Hotspur came later than he would have wanted. The Senegalese replied: “It’s a team. We have five central midfielders within that team and the coach has to make his decisions.
“I waited my turn because it’s a long season. I’ve worked every day for when the coach needs me and to make sure I have what is necessary, so when the coach calls on me, I don’t disappoint.
“At the start it wasn’t easy because I came from France and I had trouble understanding and communicating with people on the pitch when I had the urge to do so.
“The others wanted me to adapt to the team, but I didn’t speak much English. It was a bit difficult but now I’m feeling great in this team.”
Pape Matar Sarr stated that his two heartful moments so far in his career is his start in the North London Derby against Arsenal and him featuring for Spurs against the Rossoneri’s AC Milan at the San Siro.
The midfielder speaking about his mother
He also spoke about the influence of his mother who watches him once in a while because she is nervous.
“She’s always been like that,” Pape Metar says, laughing. “She loves football, but I get why she doesn’t like watching me. It’s difficult to see your son play games with all that pressure, not knowing if I will do well or not.
“But I have a lot to thank her for, she’s supported me a lot – especially since I first joined here. When it was hard at the beginning of the season, she called me up all the time and said to me: ‘Don’t give up, you’ll get there. Just keep working.’
“She’s someone who has pushed me a lot and I haven’t given up here and I am carrying on working. And it’s all starting to pay off now and that’s all thanks to her.”
Pape Matar Sarr on Heung Min Son
He also spoke positively about his teammate Heung Min Son:
“He’s nice, so nice,” says Sarr about the South Korean international. “Even if I say something wrong in English he tries to understand it to put me at ease.
“Since the first day I met him, we got on. We have a good friendship, he helps me a lot and gives advice on the pitch and off it. I appreciate that a lot and he’s one of my favourites in the team.”
Matar Sarr’s number of appearances for Tottenham Hotspur
Pape Matar Sarr has made seven appearances for Tottenham Hotspur and he has not scored any goal but he is assisting the Lilywhites in his on bit towards claiming a UEFA Champions League spot for next season.
