Moussa Sissoko: How Tottenham star went from club-record flop to Champions League hero
Exactly 12 months separated two huge moments in Moussa Sissoko’s career with Tottenham Hotspur.On April 30, 2018, Spurs were battling for a spot in the top four, one which would go down to the penultimate game of the season.Nerves at Wembley were shredded, despite a 2-0 lead over Watford, and after 74 minutes Mauricio Pochettino threw Sissoko into the mix as they claimed the win.
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9Moussa Sissoko slams his shot over the bar against Watford on April 30, 2018“It was job done for Tottenham, but it wasn’t the most vintage performance. There was a lot of tension in the stadium and that transmitted to the players,” Jermaine Jenas noted in his co-commentary.The tension was broken by laughter at the introduction of the Frenchman, who had endured a woeful season.Supporters outwardly mocked a player who lacked confidence, technique, and seemingly the mentality for the fight Spurs were in.A clumsily skyed shot from close range confirmed the fans’ misgivings about his role. He got through the game and then, somehow, he remained at the club over the summer, despite calls for his sale.Sissoko, unsurprisingly, failed to make France’s World Cup squad. He watched on as team-mate and Les Bleus captain Hugo Lloris lifted the trophy in Russia and took a long hard look at his career.Just two years earlier he had been a stand-out stat for his nation in the 2016 European Championship final, driving forward with the ball at his feet and getting his team into dangerous areas of the pitch.Now he was in the wilderness for club and country – and it hurt.
9Sissoko looked dejected in the aftermath of the Euro 2016 final defeat to PortugalHis turnaround was not immediate. With Tottenham’s World Cup stars still recovering from their summer exertions, he found himself starting against former club Newcastle United on the opening day of the 2018/19 season, and despite a 2-1 victory, Sissoko had struggled again with mistimed tackles and no forward momentum.A hamstring injury then set him back further as he missed five games.In October, though, he spluttered into life. A decent outing off the bench against Barcelona in the Champions League saw him stop a marauding Lionel Messi, while some dribbles helped relieve the pressure that had been mounting. The Spanish giants still claimed a 4-2 win at Wembley, though.A victory against Cardiff City saw him star on the right flank in a tight game before a 1-0 triumph away at West Ham saw him clip in the cross for Erik Lamela’s winner. It was a start.
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9Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is tackled by SissokoManchester City came next. Three years earlier one of his best Spurs performances had come in a 2-0 victory over the same club at White Hart Lane, a rare bright point at the beginning of his career with the club.Now, he was really getting his mojo back. The match ended in a 1-0 defeat but Sissoko was the man hurting City throughout, driving at Fernandinho, winning aerial battles and making interceptions as he protected Kieran Trippier from the onslaught of Raheem Sterling.He never gave up and told talkSPORT he always felt he could be a success with the club.Since I came [to Tottenham] everything hasnt been easy for me, for different reasons I dont want to speak about it but the most important thing for me was to keep focused, stay strong in my head, and keep working,” he said.
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9Sissoko knew he could be a hit after his club-record move, despite a tough two yearsI knew I had the quality to be successful here, I had to keep working and never give up and I would have the chance to be a success.Now, since the beginning of the season, Ive been playing a lot of games and Im happy with what Im doing but I need to carry on and try to improve even more and then try to become a better player and try to help the team to go higher up the table and go far in the Champions League.His form continued but some supporters regarded this as a purple patch rather than the norm. The next big test proved them wrong.In late November, Sissoko was Man of the Match at Wembley as Tottenham beat Chelsea 3-1. Not only did he drive his team onto the front foot, he delivered a superb showing defensively as Spurs outclassed Maurizio Sarri’s side, who had not lost a Premier League game up until that point.His technique was returning, his confidence growing, and his positional sense improving.
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9Moussa Sissoko dominates the midfield against Borussia Dortmund star Mario GotzeWith injuries besetting Pochettino’s side throughout the campaign, it was Sissoko’s midfield partnership with Harry Winks over the festive period which held the team together, complementing each other perfectly.He, like many others, grew tired but he battled on, even after a muscular problem against Manchester United put him out for a few games.A return was swift, though, and his perfect pass to Harry Kane in Dortmund put Spurs into the Champions League quarter-finals. Even when the club’s form dipped, it wasn’t Sissoko’s fault, he gave it his all.So much so, he injured himself in a tussle against Manchester City as their dream of making it to Madrid hung in the balance at the Etihad Stadium.He left the field with 49 minutes left but thanks to Fernando Llorente’s hip, Tottenham made it through. His absence was felt with Victor Wanyama only able to do so much in his stead.At the final whistle, in the changing room, his team-mates sung his name. Their support for him has been unwavering.
Ben Davies confirmed to talkSPORT just how much he’s loved by the players for his work ethic.I think hes been playing very well for us, the Welsh left-back said.Its not just the work he does attacking for us thats the freedom the boys get here.Its the effort he [gives] for us defensively, taking the ball from back to front. Its the power hes got when he gets going its massive for us and it can really take us from defence to attack pretty quickly.
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9[His return to form] shows a lot of character, the Welshman added.I think quite a lot of people had written him off at Spurs but I think as a squad we completely had faith in him and now hes getting the credit and plaudits he deserves.Were delighted for him.On April 30, 2019, one year on from the laughter of Wembley, the brand new, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was full to the brim of supporters praying for Sissoko’s involvement against Ajax in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.He didn’t make the XI but sat ready on the bench. He was soon needed.
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9Sissoko stopped Spurs from being humiliated against Ajax in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finalPochettino had opted to play with a back-three to counter the Dutch side but Wanyama was swarmed and unable to cope as Alli and Christian Eriksen pushed forward.Red and white shirts swivelled, spun, and danced around the Lilywhites for the opening 25 minutes and they were unlucky to be just one goal to the good.Jan Vertonghen was forced from the field with a head injury and on came Sissoko to the roar of the crowd. His return saw Spurs slip into a back four, giving the extra midfielder required to build some much needed momentum.
9Sissoko celebrates reaching the Champions League finalHe did just that and kept Tottenham in the game as it finished 1-0. He was vital in the second leg too.A good display was capped when his chipped ball forward found Fernando Llorente in the fifth minute of added time. Dele Alli slipped the knock-on into the penalty area and Lucas Moura shot himself, and Spurs, into the history books.Just this week he received an accolade for his stunning season, the inaugural Tottenham Legends’ Player of the Year, presented to him by Graham Roberts, the last club captain to lift a European trophy, the UEFA Cup back in 1984.Not many career’s experience such a turnaround in 12 months but now Sissoko can top it all off in the Champions League final in Madrid. One obstacle is left as he looks to shed the demons of his World Cup heartache and you wouldn’t put it past him fighting for it harder than any other on Saturday night.
9Tottenham Hotspur fans have a new heroEven if his battle ends in defeat to Liverpool, he can be proud of his campaign and know he’ll be sung about for years to come as the man who proved everyone wrong.
You can listen to live commentary of the Champions League final from 8pm on talkSPORT, plus build-up throughout the day from Madrid.
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