Djed Spence has told football.london he was “always certain” of joining Tottenham and has spoken about the instructive chats he has already had with Antonio Conte and Ivan Perisic. Spence is ready for the challenge and in his first interview with the media since arriving at Hotspur Way, he said he always had his heart set on Spurs.
Djed Spence said: “[The wait] didn’t really affect me too much. I was always certain of coming here. It didn’t affect me too much. I just focused on what I was doing, training hard. That was it, really. The manager [was a big draw], obviously the club itself is a big club. Champions League football. Those were the things that made me want to come. The manager knows what he wants and he wants his players to work hard. I’m willing to do that. I think it’s going to be a good season for everyone.
Djed Spence said: “Hopefully I can make a quick impact, no one really likes waiting, although I know you’ve got to be patient and if you get the chance, you’ve got to take it.”
When asked what Conte had told him that he is expecting from him,
Djed Spence said: “Just buy into what he’s doing, work hard and just play well when I get my chance. That’s it.”
It’s not just Conte who has been guiding Spence in the past fortnight. Tottenham’s first summer signing Perisic has been offering pointers and tips to Spence’s friend and team-mate Ryan Sessegnon since joining about how to meet Conte’s wing-back requirements, having done so with great success at Inter as the duo won the Serie A title together. Spence admitted that not long before the interview in Haifa began, Perisic had taken him aside and spoke to him after the game against Roma, in which the young wide man was one of six players who did not get any match action.
Djed Spence said: “I spoke to Ivan just then. He told me my chance will come, just be ready, train hard, when you get your chance do well and hopefully you’ll stay in the team.”
Spence impressed last season against Premier League opposition in the FA Cup such as Arsenal, Leicester and Liverpool with Spurs’ managing director of football Fabio Paratici watching him in person and having been impressed by the up and coming wing-back.
Djed Spence said: “They’re just more ruthless [in the Premier League]. It’s just a better level in every way. Hopefully I can take those performances into the Premier League. Do well for the team, do well for myself and hopefully we can do good things this season.”
When asked what the Tottenham supporters can expect from him during this coming campaign, Spence thought for a moment before suggesting
Djed Spence said: “Hopefully I can bring excitement to the team, bring something different and give the fans something to cheer about.”
