Kieren Trippier made a blatant blow to Arsenal, claiming he had never seen them as the main rivals of the Tottenham derby during his time in London.
England’s right back has come across the Gunners several times in the North London derby after joining Tottenham in 2015.
After moving to Atletico Madrid with a £ 20m shock last summer, Trippier faced Real Madrid rivals last September in his first taste of the Spanish capital’s derby.
So having been involved in two of football’s most fiercely contested rivalries, how do they compare?
Trippier has been asked this question – and Arsenal fans will likely not appreciate his answer.
(Image: PA)
“The Madrid derby is so big here,” Burnley’s former defender told The Beautiful Game podcast.
“Even when I played for Tottenham, I felt – no disrespect for Arsenal – but I didn’t feel like it was our main derby.”
Trippier went on to say that he and many of his fellow Tottenham players felt that Chelsea was their great rival.
“I felt it was Chelsea. I probably felt the excitement,” said the 29-year-old.
“Don’t get me wrong, Tottenham against Arsenal is a big hit for fans because that’s what it is with them.
“As a player, for me and certainly for some other players, the game of Chelsea was a bigger game for them.”
Trippier admits that the intensity of the Madrid derby opened his eyes, saying: “The Madrid derby … the pressure.
“Before every single game the president goes down and you don’t see him in England.
“The way he is family oriented in Spain is incredible. The way they treated me, my wife and children, I have full respect for anyone associated with Atletico while they let me play directly here and it was perfect. . “
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