Trippier Admits He Was ‘Selfish’ At The End Of His Tottenham Career

Kieran Trippier confessed
he carried on being available for Tottenham Hotspur despite not being in
his best shape and form during his final season at the club.

The
defender was ever-present for Spurs during the 2018/19 season which saw
the club finish fourth and reach the Champions League Final.

Now
playing for Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Trippier admitted he was
struggling with injuries from October until the end of the season and
that he should have seen the bigger picture at the time.

He told Football Focus: ‘It was difficult. You know you’re not playing well and you’re still getting picked.

‘You’re
struggling with injuries which I probably was from October, but I was
playing in big games, Champions League games, getting to the final.

‘You
want to play in those big games. I was probably a bit selfish at times
where I should have taken a step back and thought of the team more.

‘I
was just playing through pain and I obviously didn’t have the best of
seasons. I’ve admitted that but you know I’m happy I went through the
difficult times like that because if it happens again I know how to
control it.’

The
right-back was a key man for Diego Simeone’s side before football was
suspended due to coronavirus, making 19 league appearances and five
Champions League starts for Los Rojiblancos.

Despite making
his name in the Premier League with Spurs and Burnley before that,
Trippier insists he has not regrets about moving abroad.

He
added: ‘I’m at the perfect place now and I think it was the right time
for me to move on and play for Atletico Madrid and play for Mister
[Simeone],’ said Tripper.

‘I didn’t want to come to the end of my career and regret not going abroad.’