Tottenham Hotspur

Nacer Chadli: 'I found life difficult at Tottenham Hotspur in debut campaign'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 03 May 2015

Nacer Chadli admits that he found life "difficult" in his early days at Tottenham Hotspur as a result of the pressure put on his shoulders.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nacer Chadli has insisted that he finally feels as though he has adapted to the demands of Premier League football.

The Belgium international joined Spurs in 2013 alongside a raft of fellow new faces as the North London outfit splashed out following the sale of Gareth Bale.

Chadli struggled to make any real impact during his first season at the club, although he believes that he has now settled into his surroundings, having established himself under Mauricio Pochettino.

"I feel more comfortable," ITV Sport quotes him as saying. "It's not easy when you get injured three times in a row. I haven't been injured this season so I'm very pleased which can help me with my form.

"Everybody expected a lot [in 2013] and that's normal because Tottenham sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid and the fans wanted good players back. It was a lot of pressure so it was difficult because when you sign so many different players you have to adapt.

"Sometimes it can be very quickly or it can take time. I am never pleased, I always want to score more. Ten is okay but I want more. Of course when you come to a new club, you have some kind of pressure, you have to prove why they bought you. For me football's a game I want to enjoy, I love it, so you hope people enjoy it also."

Chadli has made 45 appearances for club and country so far this season, scoring 13 goals during that time, including two in his last two appearances.