Kieren Trippier took a cheeky blow at Arsenal by claiming that he had never seen her as Tottenham’s main derby rival during his time in London.
The English right-back met the Gunners several times in the North London derby after moving to Tottenham in 2015.
After switching to Atletico Madrid with a shock of £ 20m last summer, Trippier met rival Real last September in his first impression of the Spanish capital derby.
How do they compare after being involved in two of football’s most competitive rivalries?
Trippier was asked this question – and Arsenal fans are unlikely to like his answer.
(Image: PA)
“The Madrid derby is so big out here,” former Burnley defender told The Beautiful Game podcast.
“Even when I played for Tottenham, I felt – no disrespect for Arsenal – but I didn’t feel it was our main derby.”
Trippier went on to say that he and many of his Tottenham teammates felt that Chelsea was their big rival.
“I felt it was Chelsea. I probably just felt it,” said the 29-year-old.
“Don’t get me wrong, Tottenham against Arsenal is huge for the fans because that’s what it is with them.
“As a player, the Chelsea game was a bigger game for them for me and certainly for some other players.”
Trippier admits that the intensity of the Madrid derby has opened his eyes and says: “The Madrid derby … the pressure.
“The president comes down before every game and you don’t see that in England.
“How family oriented it is in Spain is incredible. How you treated me, my wife and my children, I have full respect for everyone connected to Atletico because they made me jump right in here and it was perfect. “
Sign up for the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and gossip.
.
