Back with the national team after missing out the World Cup, Tottenham Hotspur fullback Emerson Royal gave a long interview to the Brazilian media.
The 24-year-old had a big conversation with Globo Esporte, mostly speaking about his absence in Qatar and this new chance to prove himself.
But in the last question of the chat, the outlet did mention Tottenham’s current phase, pointing out the interview that Richarlison gave following the Champions League elimination to Milan. There, Royal tried to defend his teammate.
“As for Richarlison’s interview, I believe he left the game with a hot head,” Emerson Royal told Globo Esporte.
“I respect the opinion, these are things that came from his heart, he wanted to vent, I don’t know if it was the best way, I’m not the one who will judge the way he said or stopped talking. However, you could see, even by the way he speaks, that he was hot headed after a Champions League elimination. We wanted to go further, there were several factors that interfered with that.”
Regarding Antonio Conte’s situation at Tottenham, the fullback claimed to have no problems with the Italian coach.
“As for Conte, I have a good relationship with him, he’s not that coach that we have a very close relationship with, of talking a lot, it’s his way, he’s a coach who wants to help everyone, instructs, he shows the role he wants in each one’s game, I don’t see any problem, I have a good relationship with him. Conte is a coach who has this explosive side of him, a personality he created, but he is a coach who tries to help us as much as possible.”
Brazil chose to play only one friendly in this international break, as they’ll be facing Morocco on Saturday, so there’s still no guarantee that Royal will be playing.
Still, his call-up means he’s having a second chance to win a place at the national team.
Tottenham, meanwhile, will be one of the last Premier League clubs to get back in action, as they only play on the 3rd of April, when they face Everton at Goodison Park.
