Cudicini keen to earn his Spurs

Carlo Cudicini is eager to revive his football career after moving across London on Monday to join Tottenham Hotspur from Premier League rivals Chelsea on a free transfer.

The 35-year-old Italian goalkeeper will provide competition for the error prone Heurelho Gomes.

Cudicini, who had been at Stamford Bridge since 1999 and was Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper until Petr Cech joined the west London club in 2004, told Spurs TV Online: “I met Heurelho Gomes and Ben (Alnwick) so it will be fantastic to work with them and we’ll try to push each other.

“I think it will be a fair competition and that is good for the team.

“At this moment the team is not in the best position but it doesn’t matter – I’m here to bring some experience and try to push this club forward.”

Brazilian Gomes is currently struggling with injury and Cudicini could make his debut in Tuesday’s match against Stoke – one of five clubs along with Spurs struggling at the foot of the table on 16 points.

But Cudicini insisted he’d no regrets about arriving at a team struggling to avoid relegation from one still in contention for the title.

“It’s five months until the end of the season and we have to fight in every game to get out of this situation as soon as possible,” he said.

“I hope I bring some points,” Cudicini added. “I’m really happy with this choice. This was the time to find a new challenge and push for other success – and for the club as well.

“I was at Chelsea for 10 years – nearly a third of my life. It was a fantastic experience but now we move forward.”

Cudicini, the son of a former AC Milan goalkeeper, originally joined Chelsea on a year-long loan from Castel di Sangro and made his move permanent in 2000.

His time with Chelsea saw him help the Blues win two Premier League titles, two FA Cup and two League Cups.

Despite Spurs spending most of the season battling to avoid the drop neither Alnwick nor Cesar Sanchez (released last week) has been able to displace Gomes, a seven million pounds pre-season signing from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

However, Cudicini said his time at White Hart Lane had begun in ideal fashion after he encountered a legendary Spurs shot-stopper.

“I met a great goalkeeper on the first morning – Pat Jennings. That was a fantastic start.”