Matt Doherty has opened up on his difficult start to life at Tottenham Hotspur and how he feels he has started to turn the corner.
The Irishman caught the eye at Wolves and joined Spurs with only Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold having created more chances for team-mates in the previous two years in the Premier League.
Doherty was expected to take on the mantle from Serge Aurier as Tottenham’s first choice right-back, but the Ivory Coast international has improved his performances with the new man’s arrival and at the same time the newcomer has struggled to adapt to a different role under Jose Mourinho.
Some sections of the fanbase have voiced their criticism, but with Aurier struggling with a calf injury in recent weeks, the Republic of Ireland international has been getting more minutes under his belt and his recent performances in the victories against Fulham and Crystal Palace have pleased the Spurs boss.
Mourinho said he was “so, so happy” with Doherty’s display at Craven Cottage and on Sunday he called the Irishman’s defensive work against Roy Hodgson’s men “impeccable”.
Doherty knows the Tottenham supporters have yet to see the best of him but the 29-year-old feels he is improving as he gets sharper at a club he has taken a real shine to.
“I love being here. I have really enjoyed my time here but, personally, it’s not been a great season for me so far,” he said in a very honest interview in the matchday programme for the game against Palace.
“It’s been a period of adjustment for me but obviously, when playing, I’ve made some mistakes which isn’t the normal thing for me to do.
“I usually pride myself on being a consistent player and not making the errors that I have made this season. I just have to put even more focus and concentration in for 90 minutes and try to be mistake-free, while also expressing myself in the offensive parts of the field.”
He added: “Obviously, it’s not the same [playing at right-back compared to right wing-back]. When you play at wing-back, you don’t have to defend as much.
“You don’t get exposed in defensive situations as much as when playing as a full-back, so it is definitely different, but it is not something that it is totally alien to me. I have played there an awful lot – in the national team, I play in a back four.
“I haven’t been playing that well so far but, hopefully, I can turn that around. My form has not been the best, so it has been a tough start but, obviously, I want to turn it around as soon as possible.
“There are things I need to improve on and things I need to adapt to. It’s been an indifferent start for me personally but, there is a lot more to come.”
Doherty believes that recent displays show he’s starting to find his rhythm again as he gets fitter and sharper.
“I’m starting to turn the corner, I think. I’m starting to feel good again, to see things a lot quicker and pictures on the pitch a lot clearer,” said the right-back.
“I feel like, lately, I’ve started to go around that bend, the form is kind of improving and, when that happens, things start to come off for you and that obviously builds your confidence. So, going into games, I feel really good with where I am.”
Doherty, who has four assists to his name this season, has also struck up a friendship with Gareth Bale, which has translated into a good link-up down the right-hand side together.
“Lately, me and Gareth have been playing together a little bit, whether it has been in cup games, Europe or wherever, and I feel we do link up well,” he said.
“He goes inside, gets in the pockets, obviously, opposition players are scared to go near him because he is so good on the ball, and I’ll do the running up the line if I have to.
“Whether he slides me in, puts me out wide or I get the cross in, we seem to link up well and we just seem to have an understanding.
“I know if I make a run, he has the vision and the weight of pass to slide me in – and it’ll be perfect. So, I do really enjoy playing with him.”
(Football London)