Kieran Trippier: Ex-Spurs Star Names the Transfer that Cost Tottenham the Champions League in 2019

• Tottenham came close to Champions League glory in 2019, losing in the final to Liverpool
• Ex Spurs left baack Kieran Trippier says the sale of one player in January might have cost the team
• After a two-year spell with Atletico Madrid, Trippier is back in the Premier League with Newcastle United

Kieran Trippier has identified the departure that ultimately cost Tottenham a piece of silverware back in 2019.

Three years ago, Tottenham were playing their best football in modern times, but somehow had nothing to show for it as they ended yet another season without a trophy.

This, according to former Spurs left-back, largely had to do with the departure of midfielder Moussa Dembele.

Dembele joined Tottenham from Fulham and initially played as an attacking midfielder.

But under Mauricio Pochettino, Dembele ended up playing much deeper in midfield and it worked perfectly for him.

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His ability on the ball and dribbling skills were second to none and Pochettino has in the past been quoted likening the Belgian’s dribbling to great such as Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho and Jay-Jay Okocha.

Despite his effectiveness and consistent first team football, Dembele made a shock switch to the Chinese Super League, joining Guangzhou R&F in a £11 million move.

It was a season that saw Tottenham go all the way to the Champions League final, but were unfortunate to lose to Liverpool in Madrid.

Looking back, Trippier says Spurs stood a great chance of winning silverware had Dembele stayed at the North London club.

“For me, the big one was selling Moussa Dembele that January," Trippier told Alan Shearer via The Athletic.

"I think I can speak on behalf of the players who were there.

"In the dressing room, he was an unbelievable person and all the lads loved him, but on the pitch he was the kind of player who would make a couple of per cent difference. That's what wins you things.

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"It baffled me that they would sell him. I know he was going to be a free (transfer) in the summer, but with the things we were challenging for, I would have kept him there and then let him go. He was the difference between winning a trophy or not."

In 249 appearances for Tottenham, Dembele found the net 10 times, but was heavily involved in most of the team’s good performances.

His former team mate, Eric Dier, once named him as the best player he ever played with, ahead of Harry Kane.

Trippier also left Spurs at the back of the Champions League final defeat, going on to join Atletico Madrid.

He has since returned to the Premier League, signing for Newcastle, who are under new ownership.

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