Tottenham goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini- ‘For me it is a little bit strange to play football in Christmas’

Tottenham goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini says he is looking forward to experiencing a different kind of culture that embraces playing football during the festive season.

The former Atalanta man joined Tottenham last summer and will experience his first festive game when Tottenham host Crystal Palace on boxing day.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper admits it will be a strange feeling to be away from his family during the Christmas period but was looking forward to taking in something new.

“For me it is a little strange to play in the Christmas period because the celebration of Christmas is a cultural thing in Italy,” the goalkeeper told the Match day programme ahead of the Cup game against West Ham.

“Everybody stops, it is not the time to think about football or work, just time to spend with your family and be grateful for what you have but here it is a different culture.

“Here some people are looking forward to Christmas for the boxing day match so it’s a different culture.

“For me it is a bit strange to be training and playing in the Christmas period.  Every country has its culture, so it will be good to experience.”

Gollini hasn’t been involved as much as he would like since swapping Atalanta for North London but says he is not wasting the time on the bench, instead, he’s taking advantage of to learn as much as he can from Hugo Lloris.

He added: “Hugo is very good and he helps me to improve and maybe for him it’s good to have a young guy like me who is always pushing him to be better.

“For me he is a great example and guy I can definitely learn a lot from. He is very good and I take a lot from him and his lessons.

The Premier has a reputation for often being a tough place to adapt to when minutes on the pitch are scarce.

The Italian goalkeeper has only managed eight appearances, mostly in the Cup games and the Europa Conference League but says he feels settled and already is looking apart of the family.

“I’ve settled in really well here and I like the club. I’m really enjoying playing with my teammates,” He added.

“I’m really enjoying every minute and I feel like I have been here for a long time with the guys.

“The people who work here, the medics, the physios, the conditioning coaches, the strength coaches, the sports scientist, the kit men, I like the job and I spend time with them.

“I’m really happy because I have found a club that feels like a family and for me that is very important.

“It is quite similar to how it was at Atalanta so I quite like it. In Italy the clubs are more like families and here sometimes It can feel like a job so I like it here because of the atmosphere that I have found here.”

Tottenham have been almost spotless since Antonio Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in November, since then, they’ve gone five league games unbeaten, drawing two of those and reaching the semi-final of the Europa Conference League.

“Antonio, I knew a bit about him before he arrived through friends from the national team.

“His impact here so far has been very good. He is one of the few top managers in the world so it is great that we can work with him.

“I like the mentality that he is bringing and obviously he is trying to give us a culture. Everybody has been very open to his work and methods.

“The whole team had to do better, work harder and everyone has embraced the culture and changes that he has brought.

“It is good because we are all pushing in the same direction and that is very good because we are all pulling in the same direction.”