Ardiles backs Lamela on big stage

23 February 2015 18:16

Ossie Ardiles has backed Erik Lamela to show his worth on the Wembley stage of the Capital One Cup final - and become another Argentinian cup-winning star for Tottenham in the process.

Both Ardiles and compatriot Ricky Villa starred in the FA Cup final replay of 1981 as Spurs ran out 3-2 winners over Manchester City.

Their performances, with Villa scoring a brace in the contest, endeared them not only to Tottenham fans but to the wider footballing audience in England.

Lamela, Tottenham's club-record acquisition, has struggled to justify his large transfer fee to date but has started to show glimpses of his potential this season and Ardiles has backed the 22-year-old to use Sunday's cup final against Chelsea as the ultimate platform to showcase his true talent.

"Certainly this would be the right time to see the best of him," he told Press Association Sport.

"He has the right mentality to shine in this kind of game and to show what he can do. He had a very difficult time in his first year, this year he has shown a lot of signs of improvement.

"He is starting to understand the pace of English football and because of that he has been better - but he can do much better, he is hugely talented for his age and the best of him is yet to come. We have not seen the best of his so far but Sunday is a chance for him to really hit those sort of levels."

Ardiles, who also managed Tottenham between 1993 and 1994, revealed both he and current head coach Mauricio Pochettino have spoken at length to Lamela and cited many examples of other top-quality players who struggled to make an initial impact in the Premier League.

"Of course, I always try and help him," he said when asked whether he has spoken to the former Roma forward.

"Obviously Mauricio is his number one but I try to help him very, very much. Understanding English football is not easy - the pace is the biggest hurdle, not just for him but for many people.

"Carlos Tevez was a huge success in England with Manchester City and Manchester United but when he and Javier Mascherano first joined West Ham they struggled."

Pochettino, another Argentinian at White Hart Lane, has been praised by Ardiles who feels the ex-Southampton manager will become an idol of the fans in his first season.

"He has already achieved a lot," he said of Pochettino.

"He has done extremely well but if he delivers a victory at Wembley on Sunday, straight away he will become a hero. He will see a win at Wembley as a starting point for something where, in time, they have to win more and play in Europe every year."

As to whether he feels Tottenham can lift the trophy at the expense of Chelsea - Ardiles pointed to a memorable 5-3 Premier League victory over their London rivals on New Year's Day as proof that Spurs are capable of beating Jose Mourinho's Blues.

"We have a chance, it is a final and anything can happen," he added.

"Chelsea are the best team in England right now so it will be a tough game but having said that we have beaten them at White Hart Lane in a very good game and to beat them we have to give this kind of performance again. It (the win on New Year's Day) is psychologically very important."

:: Ossie Ardiles was talking to Press Association Sport at the launch of www.hinch.as - a new football social network.

Source: PA