Davinson Sanchez has admitted that he may have a decision to make if his situation at Tottenham does not change in the future. Previously a regular in the Spurs starting XI, the Colombian international has found himself in and out of the team over the past 18 months following the arrival of Cristian Romero.
Opportunities have been there for the player when the World Cup winner has been on the sidelines through injury, yet on the whole he has mainly had to bide his time on the substitutes' bench. Captaining Tottenham in Saturday's FA Cup victory over Preston North End, Sanchez was asked after the game about how frustrating a period it has been for him with the regular minutes he craves just not coming his way.
"Definitely. As a player, especially at my age, knowing that I'm very capable to play in this team, I think when no game time comes it's very hard because you're an international player as well, and looking at that situation. You don't want to disappear out of football," he said.
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"But I'm still here, I'm still competitive and I'm still showing I'm ready to play. If the manager says I deserve it, I will. If not, I'll wait for my moment and then maybe there's a decision to take. I have to show that I'm professional enough to face this type of situation."
Wearing the captain's armband in Saturday's 3-0 win at Deepdale, it was a special moment for the player after serving the club for so long since his switch from Ajax back in 2017.
"I'm really happy of course. You wait for these types of moment, more when you are here at the club for as long as I've been," he admitted. "I'm very thankful to the boys for being behind me with their support when these types of moments come.
"Then we come here to win the game and to show that we want to stay in this competition. We're very respectful of the opponent but the only way to show that is to come here and do what we did."
Although Antonio Conte may not start Sanchez week in, week out with Romero, Eric Dier and one of Clement Lenglet or Ben Davies making up his preferred back three, the centre-back has admitted that he and the head coach have an excellent relationship.
"The manager is very close to me and speaks to me in the right way all the time," outlined the 26-year-old. "Of course, he has to take decisions in the end, like any manager. Every three or four days he has to take decisions on who can start games. We have to be ready always.
"I'm in a side that tries to be competitive in every competition, so the most important thing is we're there, pushing the boys that are normally starting at the moment and waiting for our moment. We have to be ready, we have to prepare ourselves in the right way so when the time of game comes we have show yourself as well."
Saturday's victory in Lancashire saw Son Heung-min grab the headlines with two brilliant finishes after such a frustrating period in front of goal. Admitting that nobody at the club had any doubts about the South Korean despite his struggles this term, Sanchez believes that the attacker still has a lot more to give the team in the future.
"He's always been incredible for us," said the Colombian on his teammate. "For us, no-one has any doubts about Heung-min, he's a top player and a top guy.
"Of course as a player we wait for this moment and the most important thing now is how he reacts. He's a very important player for this club. He gave a lot but still has a lot more to give us.
"We're behind him, the fans are behind him and I think football is behind him. Because [everyone in] football loves when he is on form and scores this type of goals, and shows he's alive."
Having reached the FA Cup final in successive seasons during his two years at Chelsea, all Tottenham fans will be hoping that Conte can repeat his magic and guide Spurs to a place in the showpiece finale at Wembley at the start of June. With teams such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United already out of the competition, it does represent an excellent opportunity for the Lilywhites to finally get their hands on some much-needed silverware.
"As always, to arrive to semi-final or final, you have to play these type of games. You have to take every game with the responsibility you have to," explained Sanchez. "To dream is not just when a final or semi-final arrives. You have to dream from now. So that's why we could our way in this type of game.
"We have experience, so if we think the game's easy or done, we know the game usually goes the other way. So it's crucial in this competition to keep showing that we want to make it. As I said before, the only way to show to the opponents that we want to win it is coming here and showing it on the pitch. I think that works."
Conte will have the opportunity to spend some quality time with his Tottenham players on the training ground this week as they are next in action on Sunday afternoon when Man City visit north London. Always tending to benefit from a full week on the training pitch under the Italian, Spurs will be intent on ensuring that City's miserable run of results at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium continues once again.
"We're very capable of beating them but we know that side is very special in the way that they play. We just need to go into the game with the right mentality and preparation," outlined Sanchez. "We have a full week to prepare for the game and a full week to rest enough and be in the game to be competitive. I always side when we're on our game we're very capable of beating any side in the world."
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