|
Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has hit out at former club Tottenham for stalling his career. - Fitch: Pochettino wisely focusing on defence Gomes, 33, joined the Championship side this summer on a free transfer following six years at White Hart Lane. And the Brazil international, who struggled for first-team football in his final few seasons at Spurs, says he had been hoping to leave the club earlier, only to find his path blocked. "Tottenham treated me badly, but I am eager to make up for lost time," he told the Daily Mirror. "I've missed the atmosphere of playing in front of a crowd. In the last three years, I played only 14 games when I should have been at my peak. I have missed the game, but I am fit and I believe I'm still at my best. "When you have played for Brazil or in a Champions League quarterfinal, it is difficult to spend three years on the bench, but unfortunately Tottenham made it that way. "I had some opportunities to leave, but they kept blocking it. Always blocking, blocking." Gomes added: "Before Julio Cesar went to Queens Park Rangers, they wanted to sign me, but Spurs wanted six million pounds and it never happened. It was a tough time for me, but it's over now." Brad Friedel, Carlo Cudicini and Hugo Lloris all had spells as Tottenham's No. 1, while Gomes was left frustrated sitting on the bench. "When Tottenham signed Lloris, [then head coach] Andre Villas-Boas told me he had not asked to sign him, so you cannot do much about a situation like that," Gomes said. "I don't have a problem with Tottenham signing the captain of France -- he is a great goalkeeper. For me, the problem was them blocking every move whenever a club wanted to sign me." Gomes added: "I am as good as the other keepers at Tottenham. I am not better than any of them, but we are all internationals. What happened was the managers' decision, or the club's decision, and I have to accept it."
|
