‘I don’t understand anything’: Tottenham player makes training admission

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Emerson Royal has admitted that he ‘didn’t understand anything’ during Nuno Espirito Santo’s training sessions at Tottenham, as he told Pro-Direct Soccer. 

Whilst this interview with the Spurs defender came out recently, it seems as though it took place when Nuno was still in charge of the club.

Emerson was one of the now-sacked Tottenham man’s summer signings and he did feature quite a bit during his short time at the club.

Given that Emerson is a Spanish speaker and Nuno is a Portuguese speaker, the right-back found it difficult to understand what was going on at Hotspur Way.

There was also the issue, which probably still stands today, about Emerson struggling to grasp or understand English, which, of course, then makes life pretty difficult for himself. 

Nonetheless, he openly admitted about struggling to understand what’s going on in training, as he named the player that helps him out.

“I don’t understand anything,” said Emerson. “They ask me 50 times and I don’t understand anything.

“The manager is Portuguese but they don’t translate anything to me because they want me to learn. 

“But some of my teammates translate – Lucas. He translates to me and others who speak Portuguese. 

“It’s because it’s impossible and there’s some training that I don’t understand what’s going on. They’re talking and I don’t understand it but then I start understanding it by looking at what they’re doing in training and doing the same. But when they explain it, I don’t understand it.”

Unless Emerson is fluent in Italian, then he is probably still finding life difficult in training.

But it’s a case of as he adapts to his new surroundings, he will get used to what is going on and become more comfortable.

In truth, given the language barrier for the Brazil international, then he hasn’t done too badly.

In terms of performances out on the pitch, it has been a mixed start for the ex-Barcelona man, but with Antonio Conte now in charge, he will be hoping his system will suit him a lot better.