Exclusive! Gylfi Sigurdsson: "Kane, Bale and Terry the best. Tottenham will get out of this with De Zerbi who has to stay"

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

Iceland international and former Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Swansea City attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson has spoken exclusively to Capital Football London after his country's 3-0 win over Luxembourg in the Nations League. Still playing for Víkingur Reykjavík and in the national team at the age of 37, Sigurdsson made 318 Premier League appearances, scoring 67 goals and setting up another 51. Ahead of Tottenham's trip to Manchester United, here is what he said in what was his first interview with the English media in over five years (June 2021).

On Tottenham being bottom of the table after escaping relegation by the skin of their collective teeth and winning the Europa League less than 18 months ago: “Yeah, obviously it’s probably not the start that they wanted! But I am sure with the new manager and the new players coming in… and with time I think the manager is gonna be very good for them. They have fantastic players, good fans, good staff, amazing training ground and stadium so I am sure that in the near future they can turn it around and climb the table.”

Is it more a mental aspect than a technical deficit which they have to overcome after sailing close to the wind last season? “It takes time for the team to adapt to the new style that the manager wants to play. I am more than sure they’re gonna turn it around and climb the table.”

Should they stick with under-fire manager de Zerbi? “Yes, I think so. He’s a good manager. Give him a few games, and then I am sure things will look better.”

Harry Kane rose to superstardom during your time at the club between 2012 and 2014: were the signs already there that he was gonna make it this big? “You could see his work ethic and his finishing. Of course so early on in your career you never know how far you’re gonna go but he’s got to an incredible level. The amount of goals he’s scored is nothing short of phenomenal. If it wasn’t for Messi or Ronaldo he’d probably have been the highest goalscorer in each calendar year. But credit to him he’s put in a lot of hard work. And given how humble he is, he deserves everything he’s getting.”

Also the Ballon d’Or?“I don’t know (Gylfi smiles). But obviously having played with him it would be amazing for him to win it. You can’t say he didn’t deserve it because he scored so many goals for club and country so that would be amazing.”

The best defender you’ve faced in England? “There are so many good ones but John Terry was very tough. It’s hard to kind of think of someone straightaway but he was definitely one of them.”

The best teammates?"It’s difficult not to say Gareth Bale or Harry Kane. Both of them went on to reach incredible levels.”