Tottenham goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has admitted life has been tough for him this season, having swapped Champions League football for a place on the bench.
The Italian arrived at Tottenham on loan from Atalanta in the summer as Spurs looked to add serious competition for Hugo Lloris.
Gollini has played that role throughout the campaign, featuring in the Conference League, EFL Cup, UECL Qualifiers and FA Cup but failing to make an appearance in the Premier League.
That’s been a radical change for the goalkeeper, who managed 25 appearances in Serie A for Atalanta last season as well as playing in the group stages and last 16 of the Champions League.
And he admits the transition has not been an easy one for him, although there are some benefits to life in England.
“It’s not easy to go from the Champions League to playing on the bench,” he told Gazzetta Dello Sport’s SportWeek.
“Here, nobody cares about my style, how I dress and what jewellery I wear. In Italy, they judge you first as a character and then as a player.”
Whether Gollini remains at Tottenham beyond the end of the season remains to be seen, with Spurs having the option to turn his loan into a permanent one if they want to.
That decision will likely be down to manager Antonio Conte, who, alongside Fabio Paratici, is sure to be reshaping the squad to his own desires if he remains at the club.
The Italian is a manager who has a specific way of doing things and needs players that fit into his mould as a result.
That was something Tottenham looked to satisfy in January and will likely do so again should he stay amid talk of PSG.
In the meantime, the focus is on securing Champions League football, something Conte’s arrival has made possible, and Gollini is a big fan.
“Everything has changed since Conte arrived,” he added.
“He brought everything that was missing, both to the club and to the group. Since his arrival, there has been a radical change from the point of view of mentality and work.
“Conte is also very human: he understands the players very well and knows how to adapt his work to the team he has at his disposal.”
