Paul Ince critical of Tottenham fans for their treatment of Kieran Trippier

Follow us on Google Discover

Kieran Trippier ended his three-year association with Tottenham Hotspur by moving to Atletico Madrid.

Paul Ince has criticised Tottenham supporters for their treatment of the now-departed Kieran Trippier, who has since signed for Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old saw his form dip in an alarming fashion last season, which resulted in his coming under scrutiny and then being dropped from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the UEFA Nations League.

Trippier opted to take the plunge and make a move to La Liga where he will now be plying his trade for Diego Simeone, who will be competing alongside Spurs in the Champions League next season.

Speaking to the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live, Ince, who played for Inter Milan during his playing days, stated how Trippier will get on in Spain as he felt he was a ‘scapegoat’ for Tottenham’s poor performances last season.

On English players settling in abroad: “I think it might be different for Trippier at Atletico Madrid because Simeone doesn’t speak a word of English, hence why he’s never come over to manage in England,” Ince told BBC Five Live Sport. “I look at their players and I don’t think many do speak English. It’ll be tough for him. But football is a global language.

“It’s a good move for him. It’s a great move for him. I kind of felt last year he was hard done by from the Tottenham fans. They were on his back a bit, I really, really did. I thought he was made a scapegoat for some of the performances.”

There’s no doubt that Trippier’s performances dipped and it was right that he was being criticised on some occasions, but his move to Atletico may have caught some people by surprise.

Either way, whatever problems Trippier had with his game last season, he has a big chance in improving on those problems with the highly-rated defensive coach Simeone.

If he can produce the goods in La Liga then it’ll arguably take his game to levels he has never reached before and it even might see him being recalled to the England set-up.