Kieran Trippier has said that Tottenham vindicated him during his departure from North London.
“Things happen. Injuries and other things happen behind the scenes, and your head’s not quite there,” he said in an interview with the Guardian. “You’re still trying to do your best but things are not quite right and it’s an awful place to be.
“That was what it was like last season. I tried to put it right but like I said, I’m just happy that season is behind me and I’m in a new chapter of my life.
“Sometimes I feel I was selfish in that when I was really struggling with injuries I didn’t open up to the manager. I didn’t say anything and that damaged me because I was getting murdered on the pitch or I was making silly errors.
”Maybe that was my fault, maybe that was selfish. I should’ve thought of the bigger picture, the team, instead of myself. Maybe I should’ve taken a step back and said: ‘I’m struggling, like.’ But I just wanted to play.”
“I’m enjoying my football again,” he said. “I spoke to Fernando [Llorente] and Toby Alderweireld about La Liga and they said I’d really enjoy it so I thought: ‘Grab it with both hands.’
“I heard people saying it was a risk, there were a few warnings, but it didn’t scare me. I thought this was a great opportunity. When I first spoke to my wife it was a bit of a shock. It wasn’t necessarily ‘no’, more ‘it’ll be difficult’. She said: ‘Whatever you decide, we’ll stick by you.’ I said: ‘Let’s give it a go.’
“The most important thing is I’m enjoying my football. I’ve come to a different league, different surroundings, different culture, everything. And maybe the new challenge has woken me up. It was there to see last season that sometimes my concentration was lacking.
“Sometimes it led to goals, I know that. And I’ve said many times over the last 16 months my defending needs to improve. People questioned the move but it was the perfect team. If I play for Cholo [Diego Simeone], I know defensively I can improve.”
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