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Live Commentary - Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar

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Troy Parrott interview: Tottenham return for AZ Alkmaar forward with no regrets after becoming Eredivisie sensation

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"I just had a feeling that it would happen," Troy Parrott tells Sky Sports. "I actually said to people when I was leaving there that I will probably see you soon." On Thursday evening, he returns to Tottenham with his new club AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

Parrott made his Spurs debut at 17 amid much excitement about his potential. But after four different loan moves in English football's lower leagues, the Republic of Ireland international, now 22, has found himself in the Netherlands - in more ways than one.

"There is something about the air over here. I don't know, it is like a feeling. I just enjoy it. If you asked me two or three years ago where I would be now, I would have never said here. That is something that kind of excites me. I am getting to live in new places.

"It is just about experiencing new things. There are not many people that do it. So, to try something new, it is exciting for me. It is a short life that we have. And I am not even just talking football now. It is something you cannot get back. To be living that, it is nice."

On the pitch, he has already scored a winner in Europe and is the Eredivisie's second-highest scorer. "If I had to paint a picture of how the season would start, then it would probably have been this with the amount of goals that I have scored so far," says Parrott.

The transition to life at AZ has been seamless after a season on loan at Excelsior in which he scored 10 goals in a struggling side. "I had a great time here last year, so I think it was only right for me to stay in the country and keep enjoying football over here," he adds.

In truth, the Netherlands has been the making of him. "There have been seasons that I have had before where I have not enjoyed it too much." Everything from the style of play to the life away from the pitch is bringing the best out in a player of such obvious promise.

"The most important thing was to start enjoying football again without any pressure on it. Not telling myself I need to do this, I need to do that. I know the talent I have so if I am feeling good in myself and happy then that is always going to show itself on the pitch.

"But it was a big step because I did not have any idea what to expect when I first came over. Moving from Ireland to England is one thing but to move somewhere where they speak a different language, a different culture, it was always going to be a challenge."

Of course, an Irishman abroad is never truly alone, whether living in Rotterdam last season or Amsterdam this. "They are everywhere," he says of his compatriots. And besides, the AZ fans could not have made him feel more welcome, chanting his name from the outset.

"It is different to what I have experienced before but it is a special feeling, something that I really enjoy." He was even presented with an inflatable parrot after his home debut. Has that survived? He laughs. "Yeah, it is here, just flying around the kitchen."

That came before he scored four goals in a 9-1 win over Robin van Persie's Heerenveen - a moment that Parrott naturally ranks among his best in football. Since then, former Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart has said that he can become 'a really big player' - high praise.

"Encouraging comments are always nice to see," he concedes. But there is a sense that he has been here before, listening to those claims that he was destined for great things from a young age. He is done with beating himself up if he does not fulfil expectations.

"I have learned nothing good comes from that. I think I will be my own biggest critic but I will also give myself a pat on the back if I know I am doing well. For me, it is just about keeping that level head and not reading too much into a bad game or a good game."

What is obvious is that there have been more of those good games in the Eredivisie than there were previously, something Parrott credits to the brand of football but also a change of emphasis under Marinus Dijkhuisen, his manager at Excelsior last season.

"The thing that helped me the most last season was that I realised I was a striker who needed to be in the box. On a couple of the loans that I had, I tried to show my ability to come deep and link play. A lot of the time, I was too far away from the goal to score.

"I worked a lot with the coach at Excelsior on just being in the box, being there when the ball is getting crossed. I think for me that was the biggest thing, just drilling it into my own head that ultimately you're a striker and you need to be in the box to score goals."

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Parrott does still have that all-round game. As Van der Vaart noted, after playing on the counter-attack at Excelsior, he is able to show more at AZ. "That was one of the factors which played into my decision to come and sign here permanently," he explains.

"Last season, that build-up play did not come into but while this team still does counter-attack, we also really enjoy having the ball as well so I can show all parts of my game. I think we have a really good team and I want to improve on those aspects too."

And so to Tottenham. Are there any regrets?

"No, I don't think I have any regrets. I am grateful for how the club treated me, helping me to grow up as a person and a player. I can't really look back. This is the position I always wanted to be in, playing professional football. I understand that I am on my own journey.

"Those expectations are hard for any young player. I'm speaking like I am old, I'm still young now! It is just the experience I had, being out on all the loans and stuff, is more than what I should have at this age. But it is something a lot of young players go through.

"I believe for me I've learned to just put that to the side. It does more harm than it does good. Just to block all that out. I am happy now, being able to showcase what I can do week in and week out at a big team playing in Europe. It is what I wanted when I moved here."

As for what happens next, Parrott has learned not to think too far ahead. But asked if he could get back to the Premier League, a competition in which his involvement was restricted to two substitute appearances under Jose Mourinho, he still believes.

"I definitely have that self-belief. I am always going to have that confidence that I can do well. If I keep working hard, who knows what could happen? I could end up anywhere. But I am not thinking about the years ahead. I am only thinking about the next game."

That next game brings a return to Tottenham. And a goal there would be nice. "Yeah, really nice. Really, really nice."

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Ash Neville: Tottenham defender confident any WSL team can hurt champions Chelsea despite impressive start under Sonia Bompastor

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Tottenham are a team steeped in entertainment under Robert Vilahamn. But after keeping a clean sheet in their season opener against Crystal Palace, no team has shipped more goals than Spurs' eight.

It's a pattern that unsettles full-back Ash Neville, the club's tough-tackling defender and current longest-serving player. "When we concede we can't let it become a downhill spiral," she says, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports ahead to facing champions Chelsea this weekend - a team best known for their ruthless scoring prowess.

Spurs have enjoyed a topsy-turvy start to their second campaign under Vilahamn: the league's third-highest scorers, with the second-worst defensive record. Their most recent outing, a 3-0 defeat to Man United, presented one of those frustrating realities where a contradiction exists between performance and scoreline.

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"We started so well at Man United, and it's easy to say, but the game is different if we put our early chances away," Neville says. Sounds obvious, but she's right. Spurs have really grown into their image as a front-footed team since Vilahamn's appointment in July 2023 and are all the better for it.

They overwhelmed Man United in almost every attacking metric on Sunday, registering more shots at goal, more touches in the opposition box, higher possession share and a greater number of final third passes, spending far more time in the offensive half of the pitch than their hosts managed.

The real difference ended up being Elisabeth Terland's expert finishing from two pinpoint Celin Bizet crosses - particularly dispiriting given Bizet's prior association with Spurs. But lessons are being learnt.

"Week by week, we're finding new things to work on," Neville continues. "The losses are hard to take when you feel like the performance has been ok.

"We're in the habit now of players having the bravery to speak up. The question we ask is always 'How can this be better?'

"For fans, I'm sure it's exciting, there are loads of goals and momentum turns in games. But for us, if we take the lead we have to control games. If we go behind, it's about sticking to the game plan and staying relaxed."

Staying relaxed is especially hard against Chelsea, though. Including injury time, Sonia Bompastor's well-drilled charges have spent 73.7 per cent of games in winning positions this season, the second-highest ratio behind only Man United.

Not to be deterred, Neville respects Chelsea's near-perfect start under new boss Bompastor but isn't fazed by their objective lack of weakness. If anything, it acts as an incentive.

"Chelsea have had a really bright start. They are champions of this league and the team everyone wants to beat," she says. "They have pure quality, but I go into every game wanting to beat the opponent. There is no pressure on us, it'll be about what happens on the day."

What are Chelsea's biggest threats, then? "Mayra Ramirez," Neville replies with haste. "She was unbelievable against Arsenal last weekend. They have a great frontline and Ramirez will be a tough one to stop.

"But sometimes we focus too much on the other team, our strength is what we can do, and how we can hurt teams. We work hard on our game plan, and then it's about executing it. I'm a believer in anyone can beat anyone on the day."

This more evolved, dynamic style Spurs understand better how to cope with the demands posed by the league's top sides, but, like most, have a less than favourable record against Chelsea.

Confidence can be gleaned from the fact Tottenham have won four of their last six WSL London derbies, though (albeit not against the Blues, whom they have never beat).

The renewed sense of identity is nevertheless clear and steering the Spurs ship towards improved stability as they enter a crucial run of fixtures, which includes three capital-based rivalries - Chelsea, West Ham and then Arsenal.

"Last year, being Robert's first, we just wanted to do better than the relegation battle of the season before," Neville adds. "But now we need to push. We're invested in the way Robert wants to play and his vision, so we're building in a non-pressured way. It feels positive."

Spurs' trajectory certainly feels fast-tracked, making it all the way to the FA Cup final last season, and earning a highly respectable sixth-place finish. The measure of said progress will face stern examination by Chelsea this weekend - just about the toughest test in town.

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Tottenham 4-1 West Ham: Rampant Spurs hit three goals in eight second-half minutes to seal big comeback victory

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Tottenham mounted a comeback of their own after three goals in eight second-half minutes inspired a 4-1 victory over 10-player West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs were left to dwell on their collapse at Brighton during the international break and after a bright start, they might have been left fearing the worst as Mohammed Kudus gave the Hammers the lead (18). The hosts had been warned moments earlier as Guglielmo Vicario had to pull of a stunning save to deny the Ghana international, but the Spurs goalkeeper could do nothing to keep out his second effort after latching onto Jarrod Bowen's cross.

You could sense the frustration all around the ground after Spurs wasted another bright start and opportunities continued to come and go. The returning Heung-min Son's curled effort flew inches wide, while the in-form Brennan Johnson missed with a header from six yards as the ball hit his shoulder and bounced wide.

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But Spurs eventually found the breakthrough as Dejan Kulusevski's shot beat Alphonse Areola before hitting both posts and creeping over the line, much to the relief of the home fans.

From that moment, Spurs, who replaced James Maddison with Pape Sarr at the break, never looked back amidst a rapid capitulation from West Ham.

Yves Bissouma started the scoring rush in the 52nd minute before an own goal from Areola after Jean-Clair Todibo had also deflected Son's shot (55) and was described as "comical" by Sky Sports' Micahel Dawson on Soccer Saturday, three minutes later saw Spurs open up a two-goal advantage.

Son (60) capped the scoring spree with Spurs third in eight minutes, slamming home at the far post to see his side bounce back from their Brighton nightmare in superb style.

West Ham's dramatic second-half collapse was complete when Kudus finally received a red card after a lengthy VAR check. In a fracas towards the end of the match after a coming together with Micky van de Ven, Kudus raised his hands to both the Dutchman and Sarr. He was initially shown a yellow card but after being sent to the VAR screen, referee Andrew Madley brandished a red card to cap an afternoon to forget for Julen Lopetegui and his side.

Kudus' moment of madness...

As if West Ham's afternoon wasn't bad enough already, Kudus was then sent off in the 86th minute following a VAR review.

It was a lengthy VAR review too, but it didn't need to be. The only real surprise was when the referee initially brandished a yellow card.

It all started when Kudus appeared to kick out at Van de Ven, who was on the floor after a coming together. He then pushed Van de Ven in the face as tempers boiled over before an accidental clash of heads with Richarlison.

It didn't end there as the Ghana international, who was one of his side's better performers, pushed Sarr in the face before a red card compounded a difficult afternoon for the Hammers.

It doesn't get any easier for Lopetegui who will have to try and revive West Ham's fortunes without Kudus, who faces the prospect of three games on the sidelines, potentially even more.

Sarr 'changed the game' for Spurs

After the game, Spurs boss Postecoglou revealed the introduction of Sarr in place of Maddison was tactical, and it was a substitution that "changed the game", according to player of the match Kulusevski.

He said: "It's hard to do both things [attack and defend] all the time and it was good to get Pape in, he changed the game for us."

Postecoglou felt Sarr's running power and energy were needed up against a physical West Ham midfield.

He said in his post-match press conference: "I just felt West Ham ask you certain questions in midfield areas and I just felt Pape's running power would help us in the second half. They obviously worked hard in the first half and I thought he could give us some real energy.

"I thought he did really well and he gave us a platform to be really threatening every time we went forward and clinical in our football."

Ange: Derby win reward for our fans

Postecoglou was pleased to reward the Tottenham fans with derby bragging rights after their second-half blitz against West Ham.

When asked about the importance of a London derby win, Postecoglou said: "It's important for our fans, for sure because these are the games they want to feel good about and win obviously.

"Personally for me any game we win I get equal joy out of it as I've always said. Part of the kind of momentum we built in the second half came through the edge the supporters gave us, especially after the second goal.

"You could really feel the atmosphere inside the stadium lift and that pushed us along and we had a 15-20 minute spell where we were outstanding. It goes hand in hand.

"We need the supporters, especially at home, to provide - but to be able to provide we need to give them something in return. Today is hopefully a little bit of a reward for our fans."

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