Moussa Sissoko: How Tottenham star went from club-record flop to Champions League hero

Moussa Sissoko: How Tottenham star went from club-record flop to Champions League hero
Exactly 12 months separated two huge moments in Moussa Sissoko’s career with Tottenham Hotspur.On April 30, 2018, Spurs were battling for a spot in the top four, one which would go down to the penultimate game of the season.Nerves at Wembley were shredded, despite a 2-0 lead over Watford, and after 74 minutes Mauricio Pochettino threw Sissoko into the mix as they claimed the win.Getty Images9

Moussa Sissoko slams his shot over the bar against Watford on April 30, 2018

“It was job done for Tottenham, but it wasn’t the most vintage performance. There was a lot of tension in the stadium and that transmitted to the players,” Jermaine Jenas noted in his co-commentary.The tension was broken by laughter at the introduction of the Frenchman, who had endured a woeful season.Supporters outwardly mocked a player who lacked confidence, technique, and seemingly the mentality for the fight Spurs were in.A clumsily skyed shot from close range confirmed the fans’ misgivings about his role. He got through the game and then, somehow, he remained at the club over the summer, despite calls for his sale.Sissoko, unsurprisingly, failed to make France’s World Cup squad. He watched on as team-mate and Les Bleus captain Hugo Lloris lifted the trophy in Russia and took a long hard look at his career.Just two years earlier he had been a stand-out stat for his nation in the 2016 European Championship final, driving forward with the ball at his feet and getting his team into dangerous areas of the pitch.Now he was in the wilderness for club and country – and it hurt.9

Sissoko looked dejected in the aftermath of the Euro 2016 final defeat to Portugal

His turnaround was not immediate. With Tottenham’s World Cup stars still recovering from their summer exertions, he found himself starting against former club Newcastle United on the opening day of the 2018/19 season, and despite a 2-1 victory, Sissoko had struggled again with mistimed tackles and no forward momentum.A hamstring injury then set him back further as he missed five games.In October, though, he spluttered into life. A decent outing off the bench against Barcelona in the Champions League saw him stop a marauding Lionel Messi, while some dribbles helped relieve the pressure that had been mounting. The Spanish giants still claimed a 4-2 win at Wembley, though.A victory against Cardiff City saw him star on the right flank in a tight game before a 1-0 triumph away at West Ham saw him clip in the cross for Erik Lamela’s winner. It was a start.Getty Images9

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is tackled by Sissoko

Manchester City came next. Three years earlier one of his best Spurs performances had come in a 2-0 victory over the same club at White Hart Lane, a rare bright point at the beginning of his career with the club.Now, he was really getting his mojo back. The match ended in a 1-0 defeat but Sissoko was the man hurting City throughout, driving at Fernandinho, winning aerial battles and making interceptions as he protected Kieran Trippier from the onslaught of Raheem Sterling.He never gave up and told talkSPORT he always felt he could be a success with the club.Since I came [to Tottenham] everything hasnt been easy for me, for different reasons I dont want to speak about it but the most important thing for me was to keep focused, stay strong in my head, and keep working,” he said.Getty Images9

Sissoko knew he could be a hit after his club-record move, despite a tough two years

I knew I had the quality to be successful here, I had to keep working and never give up and I would have the chance to be a success.Now, since the beginning of the season, Ive been playing a lot of games and Im happy with what Im doing but I need to carry on and try to improve even more and then try to become a better player and try to help the team to go higher up the table and go far in the Champions League.His form continued but some supporters regarded this as a purple patch rather than the norm. The next big test proved them wrong.In late November, Sissoko was Man of the Match at Wembley as Tottenham beat Chelsea 3-1. Not only did he drive his team onto the front foot, he delivered a superb showing defensively as Spurs outclassed Maurizio Sarri’s side, who had not lost a Premier League game up until that point.His technique was returning, his confidence growing, and his positional sense improving.Getty Images9

Moussa Sissoko dominates the midfield against Borussia Dortmund star Mario Gotze

With injuries besetting Pochettino’s side throughout the campaign, it was Sissoko’s midfield partnership with Harry Winks over the festive period which held the team together, complementing each other perfectly.He, like many others, grew tired but he battled on, even after a muscular problem against Manchester United put him out for a few games.A return was swift, though, and his perfect pass to Harry Kane in Dortmund put Spurs into the Champions League quarter-finals. Even when the club’s form dipped, it wasn’t Sissoko’s fault, he gave it his all.So much so, he injured himself in a tussle against Manchester City as their dream of making it to Madrid hung in the balance at the Etihad Stadium.He left the field with 49 minutes left but thanks to Fernando Llorente’s hip, Tottenham made it through. His absence was felt with Victor Wanyama only able to do so much in his stead.At the final whistle, in the changing room, his team-mates sung his name. Their support for him has been unwavering.Ben Davies confirmed to talkSPORT just how much he’s loved by the players for his work ethic.I think hes been playing very well for us, the Welsh left-back said.Its not just the work he does attacking for us thats the freedom the boys get here.Its the effort he [gives] for us defensively, taking the ball from back to front. Its the power hes got when he gets going its massive for us and it can really take us from defence to attack pretty quickly.Getty Images9[His return to form] shows a lot of character, the Welshman added.I think quite a lot of people had written him off at Spurs but I think as a squad we completely had faith in him and now hes getting the credit and plaudits he deserves.Were delighted for him.On April 30, 2019, one year on from the laughter of Wembley, the brand new, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was full to the brim of supporters praying for Sissoko’s involvement against Ajax in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.He didn’t make the XI but sat ready on the bench. He was soon needed.Getty Images9

Sissoko stopped Spurs from being humiliated against Ajax in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final

Pochettino had opted to play with a back-three to counter the Dutch side but Wanyama was swarmed and unable to cope as Alli and Christian Eriksen pushed forward.Red and white shirts swivelled, spun, and danced around the Lilywhites for the opening 25 minutes and they were unlucky to be just one goal to the good.Jan Vertonghen was forced from the field with a head injury and on came Sissoko to the roar of the crowd. His return saw Spurs slip into a back four, giving the extra midfielder required to build some much needed momentum.9

Sissoko celebrates reaching the Champions League final

He did just that and kept Tottenham in the game as it finished 1-0. He was vital in the second leg too.A good display was capped when his chipped ball forward found Fernando Llorente in the fifth minute of added time. Dele Alli slipped the knock-on into the penalty area and Lucas Moura shot himself, and Spurs, into the history books.Just this week he received an accolade for his stunning season, the inaugural Tottenham Legends’ Player of the Year, presented to him by Graham Roberts, the last club captain to lift a European trophy, the UEFA Cup back in 1984.Not many career’s experience such a turnaround in 12 months but now Sissoko can top it all off in the Champions League final in Madrid. One obstacle is left as he looks to shed the demons of his World Cup heartache and you wouldn’t put it past him fighting for it harder than any other on Saturday night.9

Tottenham Hotspur fans have a new hero

Even if his battle ends in defeat to Liverpool, he can be proud of his campaign and know he’ll be sung about for years to come as the man who proved everyone wrong.You can listen to live commentary of the Champions League final from 8pm on talkSPORT, plus build-up throughout the day from Madrid.

---

England Championship 2018/2019 table, full stats, livescores. League, teams and player statistics. Check Championship 2018/2019 page and find many useful statistics with chart.
Premier League - Halftime tables (first-half table, second

---

"If Mesut Ozil leaves in January, no Arsenal fan would shed a tear." @PiersMorgan says #AFC don't need 'sick note' star ozil-january-arsenal-piers-morgan
Post-Match Thread: Arsenal 5-2 Benfica : Gunners

---

Record-breaking Aston Villa will take some stopping in the Championship play-offs, claims talkSPORT pundit Monday, 22 April 2019 Micky Gray believes Aston Villa will have their Championship promotion rivals quaking in their boots.
News list for record-breaking aston villa will take some

---

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be desperate for a return to winning ways in the Premier League as his side take on Southampton. The Red Devils stumbled to a 0-0 draw with Crystal
Predicted Man United line-up to face Southampton in the

---

GLENN HODDLE has revealed his joy at recovering from a heart attack in time to see Tottenham reach the Champions League final. Lucas Moura's hat-trick sealed a dramatic comeback against Ajax to
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL WILL BE SPURS VS - reddit.com

---

Harry Kane injury: How do Tottenham usually perform without their star striker? The World Cup Golden Boot winner has been ruled out until March after damaging ligaments in his ankle By Oliver Dawnay
Harry Kane injury: How do Tottenham usually perform without

---

VERDICT Arsenal news: 'Unbeaten run papered over the cracks - they could be in real trouble', says former midfielder Steve Sidwell
Arsenal heading in a 'frightening' direction as former Gunner

---

Thierry Henry's Monaco fairytale is hurtling towards nightmare ending after just four wins in 20 games - and he faces ignominy of being replaced by Leonardo Jardim (the man he took over from in

---

Mar 05, 2019 · Several countries including Australia and Japan have submitted bids to host the 2023 Women's World Cup, but there could be a last-minute joint bid by North and South Korea, and it appears that
North Korea table bid to host 2023 Women's World Cup

---

Cesc Fabregas on what Callum Hudson-Odoi's critics all get wrong about the Chelsea youngster. The former Arsenal and Barcelona playmaker has played with many great players and believes the teenager has the right personality to make it
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Who is the Chelsea youngster and how good

---

Andy Robertson picked up a yellow card for an ill-timed challenge on Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka in stoppage-time and will miss the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final match
Andy Robertson: talkSPORT's Adrian Durham calls on Liverpool

---

Maurizio Sarri reacts to Chelsea transfer ban as he makes Premier League title admission. FIFA upheld Chelsea's two-window transfer ban with the Blues ready to take the fight to CAS
Sarri discusses how Chelsea can catch City and Liverpool next

---

nonton premier league live streaming
live football streaming hd app
dhangadhi premier league 2018 live streaming
premier league live stream app iphone
football live streaming sites twitter
premier league free live streaming hd
karnataka premier league live streaming channels
premier league live stream southampton
champions league live stream kostenlos
world snooker champions league live streaming
uganda premier league live streaming
football live streaming sites in uae
champions league live streaming radio
best free live streaming champions league
english premier league live streaming hotstar
bayern munich real madrid champions league live streaming
champions league live stream guardian
t10 premier league live streaming
football live streaming free best sites
afghanistan premier league live streaming in india
champions league live stream south africa
tamil nadu premier league 2018 live streaming
champions league live streaming free english
champions league live streaming gratuit
football live streaming cyprus
roma vs barcelona champions league live streaming
premier league live stream chelsea vs liverpool
premier league games live streaming free
premier league live streaming free india
dhaka premier league live streaming 2019
isl premier league live streaming free
concacaf champions league live streaming free
olympiakos juventus champions league live streaming
champions league live stream univision
premier league live net stream channel
premier volleyball league live streaming youtube
malaysia premier league live streaming
psl premier league live streaming
uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming 2018
premier league live streaming xfinity
espn uefa champions league live streaming
premier league liverpool vs manchester city live streaming
football live streaming in hd
mumbai premier league live streaming channels
football live streaming mamahd
football live streaming free app
premier league live streaming match
roma vs liverpool champions league live streaming
champions league final live streaming ten sports
champions league knockout stage draw live streaming
football live streaming app for pc
champions league live stream games
saudi premier league live streaming
premier league live stream cr7
champions league final live streaming video
google champions league live stream
premier league live streaming usa free
indo international premier kabaddi league live streaming
indian premier league youtube live streaming
premier league live stream free total sportek
football live streaming arabic
football live streaming in mobile
afghanistan premier league 2018 live streaming in india
premier league live stream games
bangladesh premier league live streaming
english premier league liverpool vs chelsea live streaming
premier league live stream china
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
premier league live stream free app
champions league live stream juventus vs atletico madrid
premier league live streaming hd
champions league live stream app android
premier league live stream hd online
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
man city vs liverpool champions league live streaming
champions league live streaming russia
english premier league live streaming reddit
bangladesh premier league live streaming online
uefa champions league live streaming app
football live streaming in english
kerala premier league live streaming
ten sports champions league live streaming
champions league final live streaming english
liverpool vs bayern champions league live streaming
premier league live stream p2p
indian football premier league live streaming
english premier league live streaming espn
free english premier league live streaming - live football online
champions league live streaming sites
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
champions league quarter finals draw live streaming
real madrid vs liverpool final champions league live streaming
champions league live stream manchester united
champions league live streaming blogspot
football live streaming match
premier league live streaming.net
free premier league live streaming
european champions league live streaming free
masters champions league live streaming sony six
champions league live streaming youtube
liverpool vs roma champions league live streaming
indian premier league live streaming
#UCL #navas #england #laliga #likeforlikes #salah #espndeportes #transfers #sports #amrabat #beinsports #premierleague #messi #toronto #foxdeportes #championsleague #433 #Cristiano #likeforlike #Barcelona #Ronaldo #foxsports #goals #Ajax #sanchez #europaleague #BayernMunchen #Football #Casillas #realmadrid #Instagood #ronaldo #footballmemes #barcelona #Manchesterunited #meme #Bale #Neymar #united #juventus #futbolmexicano #LeoMessi #courtois #pickering #manchesterunited #realmadrid #likes4likes #soccer #telemundodeportes #Futbol #fifa #amsterdam