Tottenham defender Sergio Reguilon has admitted that Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez are "too difficult" to play against.
Reguilon is enjoying a new lease of life under new boss Antonio Conte, having being dropped by Nuno Espirito Santo.
The 24-year-old has started in both of the matches in Conte’s tenure so far, which have seen Spurs beat Vitesse Arnhem 3-2 in the Europa Conference League, and draw 0-0 with Everton last time out.
Conte’s favoured 3-4-3 formation has seen Reguilon occupy the left-wing back role ahead of fellow defender Ben Davies.
Unlike many of his team-mates, Reguilon has not been called up for international duty, meaning he has been working hard on his fitness at Hotspur Way.
Reguilon has made ten Premier League appearances so far this season but had struggled to find form for the most part under Nuno.
And the Spanish defender has said who the toughest opponents he has faced while at Spurs have been during a recent video with ProDirect Soccer.
"Against City, but not one player. Walker and Mahrez... too difficult," Reguilon said.
Both have been in good form this season, with Mahrez having provided two goals and one assist in eight Premier League appearances, while Walker has been influential in ensuring City have conceded just six league goals this season.
Speaking after the game against Everton, Reguilon said that Conte was ‘special’ and that playing as a wing-back is a learning curve after never having previously occupied the role in his professional career.
Where will Spurs finish this season under Conte? Let us know in the comments section.
“The gaffer is special,” Reguilon told the Evening Standard. “He loves training hard but now we don’t have a lot of time to work on the things he wants on the pitch. So we did a lot of meetings with videos this week.
“I’ve never played five at the back before. I have to learn quickly. The gaffer has told me he wants me to be solid in defence but at the same moment I have to arrive in the box, help the strikers, score goals, give assists. Now I have more of a chance to score goals and give assists. So let’s work.
"I have to see many videos with the staff to do what they want on the pitch. I’m enjoying the position a lot because I can attack more but I have to run double!
“I’ve watched a lot of videos of Chelsea and Inter Milan, and I have a friend at Inter, Achraf Hakimi who I spoke to about the gaffer. He told me I will improve a lot under him and I want to do that as soon as possible. He said I will have to work really, really hard but I will improve a lot. In one week, I can already see that."
After registering two assists already this season, Reguilon is well on his way to improving on his first season’s figures in England, which saw him provide six assists in total.
And playing in an advanced role will mean that the Spaniard will find himself in attacking positions more frequently.
Reguilon will be hoping to continue in his current vein of form when Spurs play host to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds at the Tottenham Hostpur Stadium on Sunday.
