STEPPING UP

A man with a resilient determination to improve at his trade, Davinson Sanchez discusses his ever-developing game and how our Head Coach Jose Mourinho is helping to push him to the next level.

- Liam Carson

Going toe-to-toe with Everton is a clash that always evokes special memories for Davinson Sanchez.

Almost three years ago, it was against the Toffees that the defender made his first league start for us in an encounter on Merseyside which ended with a very positive result. That day, Harry Kane got off the mark for the season with a well-taken brace while Christian Eriksen also got in on the act as we seized all three points with a 3-0 triumph at Goodison Park. Quite the victory, considering we had struggled on our travels there in the decade prior, with just one win from our previous 10 visits.

While the final scoreline suggested it had been a somewhat comfortable afternoon for us, a strong performance was still required from our Colombian international on his first full outing to ensure we came away with the win and a clean sheet – a match which had impressed on the defender just how strong a contest the Premier League is.

Meanwhile, the first week of his Spurs career had also given him an immediate and authentic taste of the symbolic and historic stadia in the English game, his league debut having come at our then temporary home of Wembley, the ‘home of football’, just days before we made that trip to the 128-year-old Archibald Leitchinspired Goodison.

And, when reflecting on those early impactful moments, as well as his journey in a Spurs shirt since, as he looked ahead to facing the Blues once more, Davinson explained just how he feels his personal approach to games has changed over his time in north London so far, especially as competition for places at the back continues to grow.