Nacer Chadli has been a key player for West Brom this season.
West Bromwich Albion’s Nacer Chadli celebrates scoring their first goal
Nacer Chadli’s superb form for West Bromwich Albion saw him recalled into the Belgium national squad last week.
The winger was dropped for Euro 2016 after falling out of favour at Tottenham.
Tottenham’s Nacer Chadli celebrates
Not considered a first choice player by Mauricio Pochettino, Chadli could have got his head down and fought for his place, motivated by the hope he could play a role in their Champions League campaign.
Yet having seen how Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend were ostracised in recent seasons, Chadli rightfully thought better of that, and took the opportunity to play regularly again.
It is not just his general form ahead of his recall which will have pleased him, but the specific nature of how he did it.
Last season Chadli was blamed by Mauricio Pochettino for Tottenham’s loss to West Ham, with The Times reporting that the Belgian’s failure to pick up Michail Antonio for the winner was seen as the key moment.
Chadli was not picked to start another Premier League game, and was sold to West Brom in late August.
West Bromwich Albion’s Nacer Chadli celebrates scoring their fourth goal
Last month Chadli got his revenge on West Ham, with a scintillating performance in the Baggies 4-2 win over the east London side.
Chadli scored two goals and scored two assists, in arguably his best display since arriving in England in 2013.
Was he increasingly motivated to prove a point after the hurt which stemmed individually and collectively from Tottenham’s loss to the Hammers last season?
If so he certainly did so, and this performance will have played a key part in his Belgium recall.
Leaving a club late in the transfer window for another is not always easy for players, but in Chadli’s case it has been a non-issue, and from a personal perspective he surely could not have dreamed up his 2016/17 season any better.
West Bromwich Albion’s Nacer Chadli celebrates scoring their fourth goal
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