Signed for £23m, Spurs ace Serge Aurier discusses sitting on sidelines

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Tottenham’s Serge Aurier is second choice behind Kieran Trippier.

Tottenham Hotspur full back Serge Aurier has told Football.London that sitting on the sidelines behind Kieran Trippier is ‘a new challenge’ as he bids for first-team football.

When Spurs sold Kyle Walker to Manchester City in a big-money move last summer, boss Mauricio Pochettino needed to find a replacement – and whilst a host of names were touted, Spurs went for Aurier in a £23million deal (Sky Sports).

The Ivorian had been highly rated with Toulouse and Paris Saint-Germain, and whilst he was involved in some controversies in the French capital, the consensus was that he still had untapped potential.

Aurier, 25, was in and out of the Spurs side last season as he still showed some deficiencies, and is now considered second-choice behind Trippier in the Tottenham pecking order.

However, some fans have begun calling for Aurier to start over Trippier after not only registering an assist against Newcastle United with a fantastic cross on the opening day of the season, but also impressed against Inter Milan last week.

Aurier will surely feature in tonight’s Carabao Cup clash against Watford, giving him a chance to stake a claim for more playing time – and he has now discussed being out of the Spurs team.

Aurier suggested to Football.London that his bid for first-team football is a ‘good fight’, and understands that Pochettino must make the best decision for the team.

The right back added that he prefers to be playing of course, admitting that sitting on the sidelines is a ‘new challenge’ for him having been a regular for Lens, Toulouse, PSG and Ivory Coast, but he is focused on the fight for playing time.

“For me this is a fight, but it’s a good fight,” said Aurier. “There’s nothing bad. Whether it’s me, Trips or Kyle [Walker-Peters], it’s all good. They’re very, very good players. The decision is not our decision, it’s the gaffer’s. For me it’s no problem, the best man plays. That is football my friend. The gaffer doesn’t play someone because he likes him. He picks someone because it’s better for one of us to play.”

“I prefer to be on the pitch all the time of course but I know it’s not possible. I’ll take my time and when the gaffer says I play I play. Football is about the fight. It is a new challenge for me because when I was in Paris I was playing every game. It’s a change, but I’m focused and for me it’s a good fight between me, Trips and Kyle,” he added.