Ivan Perisic opens up on first serious injury, reuniting with Conte, and Spurs mentality
Ivan Perisic has admitted that this summer proved quite challenging since he had the first serious injury of his career.
Perisic was the first of Tottenham’s seven signings to arrive through the door in the summer but the Croat did not train with the squad in the first few weeks of pre-season and did not play in the club’s friendlies in South Korea.
After coming on as a substitute in Spurs’ first two Premier League games of the season, the Croat got his first start on Saturday against Wolves.
Following a nervy start to the game, the 33-year-old proved to be Tottenham’s most potent attacking threat in the second half and assisted the home side’s solitary goal.
Speaking after the game, Perisic told Gazzetta dello Sport: “It was a strange period for me, for the first time in my career I had a serious muscle injury. I needed more time to recover, I worked a lot during the summer. I only started working with the team 3-4 weeks ago.”
After the game, Antonio Conte praised the Croat’s second-half display and admitted that he finally looked like the Perisic he knew from his Inter Milan days (Football.London).
When asked about reuniting with Conte, the wing-back responded: “Conte is always the same, always on the pitch-says Perisic of the coach. He always pushes a lot and is very important, both for us and for the club.”
Perisic, who has won the biggest trophies in the game, also praised the mentality of the Tottenham squad.
He said: “I think we are on the right track. In this group, everyone wants to work and improve every day, and this is important.
“We play practically every 3 days (once the Champions League gets underway). We must all be ready because everyone will be needed.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Perisic did look a bit off the pace in the first half but he grew into the game and showed in the second half just why he is so dangerous. Kane will relish the prospect of playing with the Croat, given his ability to whip in dangerous crosses with either foot when he has half a yard.
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