Player reveals he was ‘in pain every day’ at Tottenham – Explains why he couldn’t do anything about it

Mousa Dembélé has shared details about his difficult time at Tottenham Hotspur. He spoke in an interview with So Foot, reflecting on his years at the club. Dembélé joined Tottenham from Fulham in 2012 and played there for seven years. He moved to Guangzhou City in China after leaving Spurs. During most of his time at Tottenham, he was coached by Mauricio Pochettino, who helped the club reach their first-ever Champions League final in 2019. Unfortunately, they lost to Liverpool in that final. Later, Pochettino was let go by the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy.

When asked about playing under Pochettino, Dembélé mentioned the intensity of the team’s training and the strong bond within the squad. He said that the team had many talented players and that training became much harder when Pochettino arrived. The team’s results improved, and they won matches they had struggled with before. However, Dembélé expressed disappointment at not winning a trophy during his time at Tottenham. Despite this, he focused on the positive aspects, like the good teamwork and the joy the team brought to their supporters.

Dembélé also represented Belgium in international football, making 82 appearances for his country between 2006 and 2018. However, he did not get much playing time in major international tournaments. When asked why, he revealed the physical toll playing at Tottenham had on him. Dembélé explained that he was in pain every day at Spurs. He said he played with “under-infusion,” meaning his body was not fully recovered from matches. The international breaks were supposed to give him rest, but he had to join the Belgian national team instead. As a result, he never had enough time to rest properly. While he loved playing for Belgium and wanted to represent his country, the constant traveling and match load were too much for him at times.

Dembélé’s experience highlights the challenges that come with playing at a high level of football, balancing club commitments with international duties. Despite his pain, Dembélé pushed through and continued to play for both his club and country. He looks back on his time at Tottenham with mixed feelings, proud of the team’s achievements but saddened by their lack of silverware.