Ossie Ardiles has claimed that Tottenham will experience the benefit of Giovani Lo Celso’s Copa America success with Argentina ahead of the new season.
The midfielder played an important role for La Albiceleste as they ended their 28-year wait for a major trophy, beating Brazil 1-0 in the final courtesy of a first-half strike from Angel Di Maria.
Ossie was understandably proud of what his nation had managed to achieve and praised Lo Celso’s part in the success.
He told Tottenham’s official website: “For this generation, especially Lionel Messi, this is huge for them. And Gio had a very good tournament.
“At the beginning, he wasn’t playing so much, but he ended one of the starters, and I’m very happy for him and that is very good news for Spurs as well because he will come back with a lot of confidence. This will mean a lot.”
Spurs fans would have been hopeful last summer that Lo Celso would build on his solid first season in English football and reach his full potential.
However, that did not happen last season as the midfielder endured an injury-ridden campaign and struggled to get a consistent run in the side.
However, Ossie insisted that it was only natural for the former Real Betis man to take time to acclimatise to English football, and backed him to come good this season.
The Tottenham legend added: “The transition is not easy, not easy at all. The pace of the game in England is quicker, much more difficult, for example in South America, you have more time on the ball, more time to think, you don’t get that in the Premier League.
“Having said that, Giovani has adjusted very well to the Premier League and in a lot of ways he’s been unlucky, he had an injury when he first arrived playing for Argentina and later on, he had to deal with some tricky injuries. Fingers crossed, he will be important for us next season.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Next season is a crucial one for Lo Celso and I am confident that he will be a key player for us if he can stay fit. Nuno might just be the right fit for the Argentine as his attributes are well-suited to the demands of the Portuguese coach’s style of play.
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