Roberto Soldado admits he is ashamed by his goal record for Tottenham Hotspur, but remains confident that he will soon find his touch.
The Premier League side paid a then-club record £26million for the Spanish international in the summer of 2013, as they reinvested in their squad following the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. However, the former Valencia ace struggled to make an impact during his debut season in England, and his form this term has also been underwhelming for the White Hart Lane outfit.
Soldado has scored just seven goals in 38 league matches for Spurs, and four of these have come from the penalty spot. Despite this, he continues to be backed by the fans of the London club, and he remains confident that he will be able to repay this unwavering support by rediscovering his golden touch to become as prolific as he was expected to be when he arrived in the capital.
“From the first minute I’m involved, even before I’ve done anything, the fans show they believe in me, and I feel ashamed at not being able to satisfy them,” he said in the Evening Standard. “It’s hard when they sing. I hear them chanting my name and if I miss a chance, I feel bad. I can’t thank them enough. I just hope I can reach the level they expect and take advantage of the great players around me.
“If only I knew that little something that’s missing for me to find my form, really show my game and for the goals to start flowing. I am reassured, though, because the manager Mauricio Pochettino is giving me more minutes on the pitch. With that, my time will come, because in the games I’m feeling good. The critical thing is that the goals aren’t coming but I know they will.”
Tottenham have been going about their business in a quiet manner in recent weeks. Their 2-1 win at Swansea City last weekend takes them up to seventh in the Premier League table, and they are just four points behind West Ham United in fourth position. They will look to step up their bid for UEFA Champions League qualification on Saturday when Burnley visit the capital.
Meanwhile, Spurs are also making fine progress in the cup competitions. They beat Newcastle United 4-0 in the League Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, setting up a two-legged semi-final against League One side Sheffield United, whilst they take on Italian side Fiorentina in the second round of the UEFA Europa League after finishing second to Besiktas in their qualifying group.
Can Soldado become prolific at White Hart Lane, or is he simply not up to the job? Let us know what you think by joining in the discussion below.
