Carlo Cudicini has admitted it was emotional to make his return to the Tottenham team.
Spurs goalkeeper glad to return
Carlo Cudicini has admitted it was emotional to make his return to the Tottenham team on Wednesday following a career-threatening injury.
The Italian goalkeeper was sidelined for most of last season after fracturing both his wrists and his pelvis in a motorcycle accident in November.
He came back to training in pre-season and was called into action in midweek as Spurs beat Young Boys to progress to the group phase of the UEFA Champions League.
Heurelho Gomes started the match at White Hart Lane but was withdrawn at half-time due to a groin problem, allowing Cudicini to enter the fray.
He is pleased to be back but is not dwelling on the past and hopes to play a big part in what could be a bright future for the club.
"It was emotional to make my comeback, but not any more than that," he told
The Times.
Massive
"I felt sad for Gomes but for me it was nice to be selected.
"The accident and the injury are in the past. I would like to look forward now and enjoy what will be in the future.
"There are big things ahead here. Reaching the Champions League is a massive achievement."
Cudicini was rewarded with a new deal at the age of 36 in May when he had not fully returned to fitness and he appreciates the way Spurs stuck by him.
"I'm really grateful to the chairman (Daniel Levy) and the club," he explained.
"I've always believed that if you are an honest guy, you work hard and you do your job, that the rewards will come.
"I guess that is what has happened with Tottenham."
Advance
Cudicini is excited about playing in the Champions League again after experiencing Europe's top competition with Chelsea earlier in his career.
Tottenham have been drawn to face Inter Milan, Werder Bremen and FC Twente in Group A and Cudicini believes they can advance to the last 16 at least.
"Did I think I would ever play in the Champions League again? I don't know, but it's a great tournament to be in," he said.
"Everyone at Tottenham will really enjoy being part of it. The club have spent a lot of money to become even bigger and it's realistic to think we could advance to the knockout phase."
