25 February 2023 , 22:30
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Fraser Forster is relishing the opportunity of being back in the firing line — despite such a difficult and error-strewn week for goalkeepers.
The injury to Tottenham No.1 Hugo Lloris has opened the door to a run in the starting line-up for the former Southampton, Celtic and England keeper. And he’s loving every minute of it, even though he knows that at any moment he could find himself in the spotlight for the kind of rick Alisson and Thibaut Courtois, and Illan Meslier, have produced in the past eight days.
Forster said: “What a game the Liverpool-Real Madrid one was. It’s just hard, isn’t it? You just get punished for any kind of mistake, don’t you?
“It was an unbelievable standard. I feel sympathy a little but it’s part of the game. It’s part of being a keeper, you get punished for every little mistake, especially at that kind of level.
“Generally, not just goalkeepers but across defences, everyone has to accept there are going to be more goals where you get caught playing out. Whether it’s the keeper who gets caught or the centre-back, that’s the way football is going.
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“Everyone wants to build out from the back. It doesn’t look great when it happens, which is the frustrating thing, but it’s going to happen more and more.”
Hopefully for Forster and Spurs, it won’t happen today against Chelsea. Forster has stepped up to be Conte's No.1 after Hugo Lloris was ruled out with a knee injury. He added: “This has been the first time where I’ve been a real No.2. It’s hard, when you’re used to playing every game and always wanting to play every game.
Alisson made a horrible mistake during Liverpool's Champions League humiliation against Real Madrid (Jon Super/AP/REX/Shutterstock)“I was obviously aware of what the situation would be when I came to the club but I thought when a club of this stature comes along, I felt it was too good to turn down.
“Obviously, everyone in football dreams of being the No.1 at a club of this stature and I would like to do that if I ever got the opportunity. But, equally, I’m fully aware Hugo is here and what he has done in the game, and he’s a fantastic person.
“If it comes along, it would be great and I would love it, but equally I’m very respectful of Hugo and what he has achieved, what he has done for this club.”
Forster, who arrived at Spurs on a free transfer last summer, played against boss Antonio Conte for Celtic in the Champions League when he was in charge of Juve.
Fraser Forster admits goalkeeping mistakes are likely to happen more often (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)The 34-year-old said: “We had a bit of a chat and reminisced about that year. We got punished in the end by a very good Juventus team. That year we did really well with Celtic. That step was a bit too far for us.
“The players they had playing, like Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo... top, top players. And a fantastic manager as well. Buffon [who is 45] is still playing as well. I want to go as long as I can but I don’t know how he has done it.”
Buffon isn’t the only great Forster has played against. He added: “I’ve got Lionel Messi’s shirt. It’s just tucked away somewhere with the rest of my memorabilia. “I think he has got a Fraser Forster shirt somewhere as well. The biggest mystery is, where does Messi keep his Forster shirt?”