Hutton swipes at new Tottenham signing who couldn't cope after shredding
Alan Hutton has insisted Tottenham new boy Emerson Royal has to "learn quickly" after his disappointing debut against Crystal Palace.
The former Spurs defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, said Saturday's match was a "difficult afternoon" for the Brazillian right-back.
The North London side announced the signing of Emerson from Barcelona on deadline day (August 31st).
Football Insider exclusively revealed a day earlier (August 30th) that Spurs had agreed a £25.7million fee for the ex-Betis star.
Emerson was thrown straight into the Tottenham lineup for the trip to Selhurst Park and was run ragged by Palace's mercurial winger Wilfried Zaha.
Zaha enjoyed continued success down Spurs' left-hand side and completed 10 progressive carries and seven dribbles in the game. (fbref)
Hutton sympathised with the Brazillian but admitted he will need to step up his performances as the Premier League is a "higher level".
“I thought it was a difficult afternoon for him," he told Football Insider's Ewan Kingsbury.
“That’s a difficult game to be thrown into – he’s just signed, he’s a foreign player – new country, new language.
“He was up against one of the best wingers in the league – and Zaha will take you on every minute of the game. Even if you’re getting the better of him, he will come back for more.
“He’s going to have to learn and learn quick. This is a higher level, it’s the best league in the world.
“He will come up against players like Zaha all the time.
“He’ll have to do both sides. He’ll have to get forward and attack as well as defending really well.”
Emerson, 22, contributed four goals and 10 assists during his 76-game La Liga career.
The full-back earned his senior Brazil bow in November 2019 and has gone on to claim a further three caps for the Selecao.