Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper: team atmosphere key to success
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has revealed that the key to the club’s success in reaching the group stage of the UEFA Champions League is having a tight-knit squad.
Harry Redknapp’s men pipped Manchester City to fourth place in the English Premier League last season, assuring them of the chance to become involved in the competition of the first time in their history. After seeing off Swiss outfit Young Boys in the play-off round, they have reached the lucrative group stage.
Gomes believes that their success was due to the manager helping to create a strong bond between the members of the squad. The Brazil international told his club’s official website: "We operate in a very good atmosphere and that can only help. It ensures team unity and with it a feeling that anything and everything is possible. The team spirit here is great. It has to be that way because the Premier League is so tough. You must band together to succeed."
The 29-year-old goalkeeper also took the time to praise the club’s fans for embracing him after his career with Spurs got off to a poor start after several errors, including an own goal. He said that: "I love the atmosphere here. I try to build a good relationship with the supporters because I like to feel together as one with them. They make the club what it is."
Gomes started his career with Cruzeiro in his homeland and won the Brazilian league title as well as a Copa do Brasil as he made 59 appearances for the club.
In July 2004, he was transferred to Dutch side PSV Einhoven, with whom he won four straight Eredivisie titles as well as a Dutch cup. After joining Spurs in 2008, he has gone on to make 67 appearances for the first team and was rated as the EPL’s best goalkeeper in 2009.
Gomes has also played 11 times for his country and has won the FIFA Confederations Cup twice.
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