Pedro Porro knows he will have to surprise opponents if he is to become a successful right-back under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur. The 23-year-old has only been at Spurs for a little over seven months but has worked under four different head coaches during that short time, having signed for Antonio Conte then played under two caretaker bosses in Cristian Stellini and then Ryan Mason before getting to work this summer with Ange Postecoglou. Porro managed to score six goals and rack up 14 assists last season for both Sporting and Tottenham, three goals and three assists coming after his move to north London. The Spaniard admits it has been difficult and a bit of a whirlwind experience with so many different coaches in such a short space of time.
Pedro Porro said: “At first I struggled with a few things and it was difficult, but I’m focused on my football and just have to keep working hard. For me everything since I’ve been here is new. Now the coach is new and we need to keep progressing and focusing on training and on the games. It’s a new manager so it’s different but I like it so let’s continue.”
Take him out of that group and Porro is more shy, thoughtful and cautious at times, not giving too much away, perhaps wary of the questions that may come of being the subject of a £40m move that was made for a previous head coach with doubts among fans and pundits over whether he can fit the new man’s system. Yet Porro has enjoyed his short spell so far with Postecoglou and the attacking football the Australian has brought to the club.
Pedro Porro said: “We’ve been working for a little while only, but his ideas are really good and I believe we have to continue as normal and as I’m saying trying to continue to reinforce the process.”
Postecoglou brings change for Porro, not only in having to switch from being a wing-back to a right-back, but in knowing also that the new head coach likes inverted full-backs, which means them coming inside to fill a role in the centre of midfield during periods of matches. There had been some suggestions that the attacking nature of Porro might lend itself to him being used as a winger and he was asked what position he was set to play in under the new man.
Pedro Porro said: “My position [under him] is a defender but the system is different and I’m happy with whatever comes. Yes and no. It’s different – being right wing-back is like a winger but I try to adapt to that position but it’s still different when you are attacking, because as a right-back you have to surprise the opposition. You just have to get into the habit of defending. I’ve gone forward since I’ve been a professional so [in coming back] it’s always a bit more challenging but I keep on trying.”
On the inverted full-back system,
Pedro Porro added: “It’s a different way and new ideas. I like that type of game because you can get on the ball a lot and pass it around. Still I feel comfortable working on defence which is very important and will be important going forward. Both things are important.”
Porro, who was an unused substitute against Brentford on Saturday, believes that the battle with Emerson Royal, who played the full 90 minutes and scored, and Djed Spence for the one right-back spot is good for everybody.
Pedro Porro said: “I think it’s good for the team, we have to be very competitive and give 200%. I think it’s very good for the three of us to compete.”
Spurs paid just under £40m this summer to make Porro’s loan move from Sporting a permanent one as part of the obligation to sign him in his January deal. Seven months on and Porro feels more settled now in a culture and league that is very different to his life in Portugal and back home in Spain.
Pedro Porro said: “Yes, basically I’m good now. I like the league, I like the new project and truly now I’m going to play better. I thought it was going to be hard to adapt and in the few first months that people talk about I did have plenty of difficulty. I had to change very quickly and I’m doing alright. It’s good because I feel a lot more comfortable, it’s easier for me to get along than the first few months. Also, there is Reggy, Cuti, Davinson, Eme [Royal], Gio and many players. Lots of Spanish speakers. The more I can communicate, the better I feel.”
