Ryan Nelson

Exclusive: Interview with Spurs signing Ryan Nelsen

By Ben Pearce, Tottenham correspondent
Thursday, February 16, 2012
11:56 AM

Ryan Nelsen is hoping that his move to Tottenham will result in an FA Cup final at Wembley, having suffered the disappointment of three unsuccessful cup semi-finals at Blackburn.

The Kiwi centre-back reached the final four of the FA Cup in 2005 and 2007, only to be eliminated by Arsenal and Chelsea respectively and Rovers were also defeated by Aston Villa in the Carling Cup semi-final in 2010.

Having never won a trophy during his time in England, or appeared at Wembley, the 34-year-old is now in the twilight of his career.

But, as Spurs prepare for Sundays FA Cup clash at Stevenage, Nelsen believes that his surprise deadline day move gives him a big chance of another semi-final this time at Wembley and a genuine shot at the trophy.

"I've been to three cup semi-finals so it would obviously be nice to push on in the FA Cup," Nelsen told London24. "It will be a very difficult match against Stevenage so it's one that we need to prepare for.

"I think it's fair to say I've got unfinished business with the FA Cup, because I've had a bit of a taste of it and come so close to getting to a final before.

"This squad's good enough to go on and win it, and I know it's a priority for us. Well be taking this seriously because its going to be a very awkward game.

"There have always been banana skins and upsets in this competition. If you don't get the mental side of it right it can come back and hurt you, and that's the great thing about the FA Cup. Stevenage beat Newcastle in the cup last season, so they'll be a very hard team.

"People might look at it and say that the draw's opening up nicely for us, but it's too easy to look at it on paper the FA Cup is never like that.

"We've all witnessed it in the past so well just take it one game at a time. We definitely won't take Stevenage lightly, and hopefully we can get into that last eight."

Having watched the goalless draw at Anfield from the bench, Nelsen made his Tottenham debut on Saturday against Newcastle, replacing Ledley King after 75 minutes.

The New Zealand international admits that he has always had a soft spot for White Hart Lane and he has high hopes for "the best squad in the Premier League", both in the league and the FA Cup.

"It was obviously an extremely difficult time to come on, when you're 5-0 up with 15 minutes to play and the guys are playing brilliantly," he joked.

"It was just an absolute honour to get my debut for Tottenham and it couldn't have gone better. The start of the game was really important. Newcastle are having a great season, so to get three points was brilliant.

"I don't want to say this, but White Hart Lane is my favourite stadium. I can remember playing here five or six times, and when you come out at this ground playing for Spurs it's a whole different feel. It's an amazing stadium with fantastic fans.

"Personally, when I was asked to come here it was just to help out in any way I could, on and off the field. They've just got some incredible players here, you only have to look at the other centre-backs to see that.

"Ledley and Michael [Dawson] have been fantastic in the two games that I've witnessed and, watching from the side-lines on Saturday, they were fantastic again. Then when youve got Younes [Kaboul] and William [Gallas] to come back, it's just fantastic.

"It's great to have squad strength like that, and we've got it in every single position. I think its the best squad in the Premier League. Its so strong, so it's exciting.

"The way we're looking at it is taking each game one by one, getting points out of all of them and making progress in the cup. Then, come May 13, hopefully well be there or thereabouts."

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