We featured the story recently of Luis Binks from Gillingham after he signed for Impact Montreal in the MLS.

We’ve caught up with Luis again to discuss Lockdown Canadian style; being stuck in a hotel with a World Cup winner and exactly what Jose Mourinho said to try to stop the trans-Atlantic move.

So, what was “Lockdown Canada” like, “it’s pretty boring as you can imagine! It’s the same as England nothing’s open and no one’s about apart from runner, dog walker or cyclists out for a bit of fresh air and exercise.  I was here say a month so I know my way around now and where’s nice places to eat and go out but also by having to go on runs to keep fit during lockdown I’ve discovered other nice places in the city.

Montreal is in a part of Canada where French is commonly spoken – we wonder if that had caused Luis any problems? “No not at all every person speaks English within the team and all the team talks are done in English. When you go out it’s a bit different as you’ll walk into somewhere and they’ll say “Bonjour” but as soon as you say “Hello” they swap to English, so it’s all been fine. I have been told to slow down when speaking though because I have a strong English accent apparently ha-ha!”

Thankfully for the time being, Luis has been able to return to the family home in Gillingham until he can return to Canada, but we still wondered what was it like  being locked in a hotel in downtown Montreal with a world cup winner.

Luis laughed and said, “Yeah it was easier as obviously he’s someone I can learn a lot from because he’s played at the level I want to one day get to and to just rack his brains about what he didn’t like as a forwards and who was hard players he came up against is good as I can take that into my game.  He’s told me about the best players he’s played with and against and the best stadiums he’s played at. It’s amazing hearing some of the names that he says and the places he’s played. It’s what I’m dreaming for. 

Leaving Spurs was a tough decision for the young man to make especially as he had to tell “the Special One” he was leaving.

Luis told us, “I knew Jose before I had the meeting as id been with the first team over Christmas and then he came in when I told the club I wanted to move on. He just said if I carry on, I’d go on pre-season tour with the squad and if I worked hard and done well there then there may have been a chance of me playing some games next year. Which like I’ve said to others before was a massive thing for me and made it hard for me to leave but if I’m good enough I’ll get to the top and by Jose saying that it just reassured me that I’m good enough.

“I was happy when he came to Spurs because I liked him as a manager and obviously everything, he’s done in the game is brilliant and no one can obviously question that but then I was unsure about whether he’d play youth. Pochettino was also great and I had a few training sessions with him which was so so hard, but I felt I never got as big as a chance as I deserved.

“I feel I should’ve been with the first team in ore season last year over some people but it was to be so Jose coming in boosted me and I thought new manager I may get a chance but again I felt I didn’t get as big as a chance I deserved.”

Luis was soon asked to join up with the first team squad. “It was the best feeling,” Luis told us. “Being asked by someone like him who’s worked with the likes Terry, Ramos (2 of my idols) was brilliant but again I wish I had some game involvements even if that meant just travelling and experiencing what it’s like to be in and around one of the best teams in the world on a match day.”

With English football still waiting for the go ahead to restart, is the situation in Canada the same? “We’re all in the dark as to when the season may resume,” Luis admitted.  “Obviously, it’s very bad in America so we have to wait for that to calm down before anything, I think. When we do get going our goalkeeper Clement Diop is defiantly one you should look out for. He’s been good for us in the little time we played together for the first few games, he’s distribution and shot stopping is brilliant.” 

“It’s all been a bit surreal being in a first team environment first and foremost playing with some players who have played with the likes of Messi, Xavi, Kane, Alli.

Working with the manager is also very surreal but I’m grateful for this opportunity and it shows that hard work does pay off but like you say things happen so unexpectedly and hopefully this move was for the better.

There were a few (other offers) but first team football was my main attraction and working with a great manager every day and again not going somewhere to just train every day and not play matches as no footballer likes just training. You get excited when a Saturday comes to play.”

“It was hard telling Mum and Dad and obviously they both had their doubts like I did but when it became more serious it was a no brainier to come. Great coaches, great experienced players, great facilities, great fans what’s not to like. 23s football doesn’t have all of that. No fans. Rarely playing in stadiums (if you do it’s empty) no experience.”