Japhet Tanganga's first thought as he walked off after his Premier League debut was to find his dad, who had travelled the short distance from Hackney to witness his son hold his own against Liverpool.
“He was really pleased,” Tanganga, 20, told Standard Sport after making his second appearance in four days in Tuesday night’s 2-1 FA Cup third-round replay win over Middlesbrough.
“I was so happy to just see the joy on his face. He’s worked so hard for years — taking me to football, sacrificing time off work, standing there in the cold watching me when it’s raining.
"He’s just been there. I’m so grateful for all that he’s given me. I was so happy.”
Tanganga endured sleepless nights after being told by Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho on Tuesday last week that he would be starting against runaway League leaders Liverpool, but he was more relaxed before Boro’s visit, having performed well against Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Co.
“I had felt nervous building up to [Liverpool], a couple of times I barely slept,” he admitted. “But no matter if it’s your debut, you’ve got to concentrate, you’re out there to do a job.
“There’s a reason the manager chose me and he wanted me to do a certain job. So I can’t be thinking about the nerves. As soon as I got in the tunnel, I was fine. On the day I was okay, no nerves.
“Obviously beforehand [I was thinking] those two [Mane and Salah] are probably up there with the best — Mane’s the African player of the year.”
- Read more
Tanganga loving life in Spurs team after man-of-the-match display
Tanganga, who was born in London to Congolese parents and has represented England at youth level, added: “But leading into the game, the boys were just encouraging me.
"They were telling me Sonny, Harry Kane, Lucas Moura are top players, so you’ve just got to handle them the way you’ve been doing in training.
"They’re different but they’re still at a high level and you’re doing it every day so you should be able to handle it.”
In fact, Tanganga handled it so well, he kept his place for Tuesday night's replay win, as goals from Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela set up a fourth-round clash at Southampton on Saturday week.
The youngster again started at right-back, this time with licence to go forward, and he came within an inch of scoring his first professional goal after firing just wide of the far post in the first half.
“Obviously after the Liverpool game people were congratulating me but I just wanted to move onto the next one,” Tanganga added. “Thankfully the gaffer gave me the opportunity and again it was just a great feeling.
“I’m really happy with all the support and encouragement I’ve got from everyone. It’s just been great.
“I haven’t played right-back for a while but obviously if the manager needs me to do a job — left-back, right-back, midfield — I’ll do it. I’m comfortable on the ball, I want to work for the team.
"He said well done for Liverpool but just keep working. Keep your head down, keep working for your next opportunity. Stay humble, grounded and keep working.”
Tanganga has 18 months remaining on his Spurs contract but he is in talks over a new long-term deal and, if it was up to him, he would sign up to his boyhood club for life.
“I’ve been at Tottenham for a long time, since I was ten,” he said. “This club is fantastic, the staff, the coaches, everyone has just helped me. The club means a lot to me.
“Of course I’d love to stay as long as I could and go on until I retire. But that’s for the club to deal with me and for me to focus on the pitch and deliver as much as I possibly can.”