‘I take it as a compliment’ – Hojbjerg responds to Tottenham fans’ boos after supporters turned on team against Leeds
PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG says Tottenham should take being booed by their own fans as a compliment.
Spurs were given stick by their own supporters as they trailed 1-0 at half-time at home to Leeds on Sunday.
Second half strikes by Hojbjerg and Sergio Reguilon eventually saw the North Londoners complete a fine comeback to ensure new manager Antonio Conte’s first Premier League home game in charge ended in victory.
The Danish midfielder said: “I kind of understand the boos. I hope it won’t happen again but I understand there are high demands, high pressure.
“The fans have great expectations because we’re a great team, so I take that as a compliment.
“We’re here to perform well and let the fans celebrate, which is the main thing. We did that in the second half and the fans were incredible in the second half also, so let’s try to do that from the start.”
Hojbjerg’s equaliser was his second Premier League goal of the season.
He said: “I was actually a little bit annoyed because we should have scored a couple of times before and the game wasn’t technically going well.
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“So it was more like ‘I scored but let’s get back and get another one’ because a draw at home I was never going to be celebrating.
“I only celebrate the wins and we did that.”
The win moved Tottenham to within four points of the top four.
Hojbjerg said: “I think the reaction after the game and the second goal showed how much it means to us.
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“Technically, it wasn’t a perfect game from us. There were a couple of mistakes and I have to say the way Leeds play is very demanding and very aggressive. They cause these individual mistakes.
“But I thought collectively we came out for the second half very aggressively, on top with a good attitude. We got the stadium with us, with fantastic support.
“To come back the way we did, from a character and mental point of view, I thought was very important and very strong.”