“I didn’t let anyone down” – Fans should understand desire to join Tottenham and Poch, says player

Pau Lopez’s situation has completely turned on its head. When the goalkeeper’s summer transfer to Tottenham collapsed, after a year spent on loan at the Premier League club, it wasn’t expected he’d sign a new contract with Espanyol instead.

But injury to Diego Lopez allowed Pau to once again show he’d be a brilliant long term option for Espanyol, and potentially a valuable commodity in the future.

That means a renewal is now possible, and outline talks have started, with Espanyol keen to secure the player beyond the end of the season.

However, some fans of the Barcelona club haven’t forgiven Pau for wanting to join Tottenham, and previous Espanyol player and manager Mauricio Pochettino, in the first place.

The summer negotiations, with Tottenham trying to sign Pau for far too low a price and bully Espanyol, won’t have gone down well either. It potentially damaged Pochettino’s reputation with Espanyol fans, and also that of Pau, who could have called the whole thing off at any point.

Quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Pau insisted fans should understand the situation he was in: “I didn’t let anyone down. When it comes to making decisions, you think about what will be best for yourself and the family.”

Should Pau continue to put in good performances, and sign a new contract, then Espanyol fans should soon forgive and forget his desire to join Tottenham.