AZ Alkmaar’s Wouter Goes has admitted he knows he was to blame for Tottenham’s first goal in the defeat on Thursday evening.
Soccer News cover comments from the player today after his ‘clumsy mistake’ in the clash with Tottenham led to the opening goal for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Goes was the centre of attention for the wrong reason as a mistake in the 26th minute allowed Dominic Solanke to tee up Wilson Odobert to fire Tottenham level.
James Maddison added to that with a 48th minute strike before Peer Koopmeiners levelled the scores in the 63rd minute. Odobert’s second of the evening the 74th minute put Tottenham back in front and eventually secured their progression to the next round, though.
The win was very much built on that opening goal from Odobert, which set the tone for the game and appeared to give Ange Postecoglou’s side the confidence they needed to turn the tie around following a 1-0 defeat in the first leg.
Goes is aware of the role that he played in that goal and admits he’ll have to take that on the chin, treating it as a learning moment for the future.
“I think it’s all about small mistakes at the highest level. We also created chances ourselves, but here it’s punished,” he said.
“Yes, that’s definitely a mistake. I have to play that ball back to Rome (Owusu-Oduro, ed.) or play it out. Anyone can play a wrong ball. Then it’s up to me to solve it and I didn’t do that well.
“Then you know: I’m not going to make a mistake again. That’s rubbish now, but maybe a learning experience later.”
