Trippier: The sale of Moussa Dembele to China is the reason for Tottenham's decline

Newcastle player Trippier in an interview with The Athletic about former owners Tottenham Hotspur, when asked why Spurs began to decline after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League final, Trippier said that the sale of Moussa Dembele to China was a turning point in Tottenham's decline.

Trippier said: "Looking back on the last few months of my Tottenham career, I admit that I didn't reach the level I was at at the 2018 World Cup, there is no excuse for that. As a footballer, I try to be the best I can, but sometimes things don't go the way I want it to. Good things didn't happen, but I was still selected by Pochettino into the squad. After the Champions League final, I feel it's time to move on. The media wasn't on my side at the time, and maybe I needed to leave England for a while and clear my head, I never stopped at the past. ”

What me off is that, you know, there are always rumors in football, but I know a 100 per cent fact that is what makes me most angry – two months before the end of that season, Daniel recommended me to other clubs. I'm pretty sure this happened, so I knew my Tottenham career was going to come to an end. I play for my teammates and fans, but I also know I'm not needed by the team. ”

Asked why Spurs were down after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League, Trippier said: "In my opinion, the most important reason was the sale of Moussa Denbele in January of that year. I think I can speak for the players at the time, in the dressing room he was an incredible guy and all the teammates liked him. On the pitch, he's the kind of player who can make a little difference to the team, and that's why he can win something. ”

Moussa Dembele played for Tottenham Hotspur from August 2012 to January 2019, making a total of 249 appearances for the team, scoring 10 goals and contributing 12 assists. In January 2019, Moussa Dembele joined then-Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F from Tottenham.

(Zhen Shiming)