Kyle Walker-Peters reveals what convinced him to join Southampton | OneFootball

Kyle Walker-Peters felt destined to remain a part of the Tottenham first-team for the foreseeable future but the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino changed the outlook of his career.

Even though the soon-to-be 23-year-old has put in Man of the Match performances in the past, in addition to a three-assist gem against Bournemouth on Boxing Day 2018, José Mourinho froze him out and allowed him to join Southampton on loan.

“I think had he (Pochettino) stayed, I’d still be at Tottenham,” Walker-Peters told Southampton’s official website.

“He was never really big on loans. There were always opportunities for him to send me on loan and he never did, so I think that showed his faith in me.

“Despite not playing me all the time, it showed that he wanted me around. If he hadn’t left, I don’t think I’d be on loan, so it just shows how fast football can change.

“Mourinho comes in and I get to play one game, but I don’t really get an opportunity like I thought I would, in terms of two or three games rotating with Serge Aurier, but the manager has to make decisions. That was his decision, so that’s fine.

KWP then revealed that Southampton’s run of form toward the end of December convinced him to join.

“I was probably watching games from the back end of November (just after Pochettino was sacked),” he says.

“I was trying to watch as many games as possible – not just Southampton, but the other teams who were interested in me as well.

“Watching those games gave me a good feeling of me being able to fit in well in this team. That was important for me to do.

“Watching them against Tottenham impressed me the most, and also the game against Leicester because earlier in the season Leicester really played well at St Mary’s.

“For the manager and the rest of the staff to come up with a plan to go to their stadium and beat them… the way they played – with energy, putting everything on the line – really enticed me.”