In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Pape Sarr discusses Cristian Romero's mentality, Spurs' set-piece issues and his development under Ange Postecoglou | Watch Chelsea vs Tottenham on Thursday, live on Sky Sports from 7pm; kick-off 7.30pm.
Thursday 2 May 2024 18:30, UK
Pape Sarr has backed up his boss Ange Postecoglou's comments on Cristian Romero, agreeing he and his team-mates should follow the lead of the "warrior" defender.
Romero produced a battling, all-action display in Spurs' 3-2 defeat to north London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, popping up all over the pitch and pulling a goal back for his side having already hit the post and sent two headers wide in the game.
It was a performance that drew praise from Spurs boss Postecoglou, who called on the rest of his players to be more like Romero. He said: "He was outstanding. He's a World Cup winner and I've just got to get some of what's in him into some of the others."
It's a sentiment Sarr agrees with and the Spurs midfielder is delighted to have Argentine "winner" on his side.
"The coach is absolutely right," Sarr told Sky Sports.
"Romero is a really hard worker. I often say he is a warrior. He's a winner and he absolutely hates to lose.
"In terms of his mentality, out on the training pitch and in matches, it is always the same. That's just how he is and he is certainly one of the leaders in the dressing room with the energy, commitment and determination that he brings to the team.
"It is something that helps us get across the line sometimes. When you look at the match against Arsenal, it's not easy to put in that performance like he did in the second half. But he's like that.
"He's a winner and I'm really happy for what he brings to this team."
Romero is a really hard worker. I often say he is a warrior. He's a winner and he absolutely hates to lose.
Spurs will need more of Romero's battling resolve when they face another London rival in Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, live on Sky Sports on Thursday (kick-off 7.30pm).
After the disappointment of defeat to Arsenal, it represents a quick chance for Postecoglou's side - who also face a trip to Liverpool, live on Sky on Sunday (kick-off 4.30pm) - to bounce back in another London derby and keep their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League alive.
Sarr said: "Of course, the result against Arsenal was a disappointment. We didn't expect that result.
"We played well in the first half but couldn't score a goal. They were more decisive in that period and big matches are like that. You have to make your chances count.
"There is a big week ahead of us now and we are fully concentrated on that," he added.
"It's a big challenge but we have already played a lot of big teams this year.
"Chelsea are a team who are in good form at the moment, but we are ready to take on the challenge to the best of our ability."
One challenge Spurs can expect at Chelsea is from set-pieces.
There's been a lot of scrutiny around Tottenham's set-piece work in recent months and particularly since Arsenal scored twice from corners in their 3-2 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Postecoglou was resolute in the aftermath of Sunday, suggesting fixing Spurs' problems when defending set-pieces wasn't the main issue he had to address, but the numbers do make difficult reading.
Tottenham have conceded 14 goals from set-pieces throughout the current season. Only the bottom four teams have conceded more, highlighting Postecoglou's side's issues when facing dead-ball situations.
Despite playing down any long-term concerns around Spurs' set-piece problem, Sarr says Spurs are aware of the problem and he has called for focus as they try to improve.
"When it comes to set pieces, it's not just us," he said. "All teams have difficulties with set pieces at the moment because teams are so good at them that every set piece presents a chance for a goal.
"We all need to focus on this aspect.
"Defending set pieces is something that requires an awful lot of focus and we are aware of that.
"We need to take our responsibilities and make sure we do the job out on the pitch because certainly in training we are doing everything we need to and working really hard to make sure we are up to the challenge.
"The difficulty is that out on the pitch there is another team and they have also been working on that aspect of the game really hard. We just need to make sure we are fully concentrated on it."
It's been somewhat of a breakthrough season for Sarr at Spurs.
He joined the north London club in August 2021 from Metz before spending the 2021/22 season back with the French club on loan.
The next season he made just two starts in nine appearances for Spurs in the Premier League, but under Postecoglou, the 21-year-old, who signed a new six-and-a-half year deal with the club in January, has been a key figure, making 22 starts in the league.
The Senegal international was quick to highlight the huge role Postecoglou has played in his development this season and insists he wants to repay the Australian's faith in him.
He's shown a lot of faith and confidence in me and that is particularly important because last year I wasn't playing so much. For that reason, I will never stop fighting for him out on the pitch.
"He's helped me in every aspect of my game," he said.
"He's shown a lot of faith and confidence in me and that is particularly important because last year I wasn't playing so much.
"For that reason, I will never stop fighting for him out on the pitch and never stop fighting for my team to make sure I don't betray the trust he has put in me because it means a lot to me.
"I thank him enormously for that."
Spurs' fight to reach the Champions League continues on Thursday, live on Sky Sports and they have some ground to makeup on fourth-placed Aston Villa, who are seven points ahead of Postecoglou's side in fifth.
However, with Spurs having two games in hand on Villa, Sarr isn't giving up hope just yet and is targeting a strong finish to the season.
"The most important this is to win all our matches," he said.
"If we win all our matches, we'll finish high enough.
"Our objective now is to win all our matches and finish as high as we can.
"The aim is absolutely to win these matches. We have to win our remaining matches to finish this season in the best way possible.
"Next season will also be here before you know it and if we can manage to put a few wins on the bounce together, that will put us in the best position possible for next year."
Watch Chelsea vs Tottenham on Thursday, live on Sky Sports from 7pm; kick-off 7.30pm.
May 2: Chelsea (A) - Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm, live on Sky Sports
May 5: Liverpool (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
May 11: Burnley (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 14: Man City (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 19: Sheffield United (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4pm
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