‘I really like the pressure of taking a penalty’ - Cantwell keen to take more spot-kicks for City
Cantwell scored City's last penalty in the shoot-out. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
As a boyhood Arsenal fan, there is nothing Todd Cantwell would have enjoyed more than netting a penalty in front of thousands of Tottenham Hotspur supporters.
Cantwell oozed composure as he walked up to the penalty area, even juggling the ball prior to dispatching his spot-kick into the top left corner on the way to Norwich City's penalty shoot-out FA Cup win in north London.
The Dereham-born midfielder has seen his stock rise dramatically after an impressive debut season in the Premier League.
His reaction to Josip Drmic's equaliser displayed his commitment to City's cause, and the 22-year-old was quick to dedicate the landmark victory to the Canaries supporters.
"It's fantastic support," he said. "Incredible. It's the fairy-tale of the FA Cup and the underdog won. I'm sure they enjoyed it just as much as we did.
Cantwell's penalty was the first of his career. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
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"We always talk about momentum. We've just managed to beat Leicester and now we've beaten Tottenham away. We've spoke about togetherness and character pretty much all season and there's nothing like showing it in that fashion. It was a tiring game. We did so well to get back into the game, I think we deserved it. We put so much into the game so, going into extra-time, it was hard to find that extra gear again."
Cantwell's spot-kick was the first he's taken in his senior career, but he admits he relishes the pressure a penalty places on him.
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"It's the first penalty I've taken in my professional career," he said. "I've always pushed for them. I really like the pressure of taking a penalty and I enjoyed it.
"When you're stood there and you don't really know what's going to happen or what that player is thinking. All you know is that for an away player going to take a penalty against the Spurs fans, it's nerve wracking, so credit to the lads."
Tim Krul was the hero of the hour for City, and Cantwell was keen to praise the Dutch shot-stopper post-match.
He said: "We all felt confident in Tim (Krul) and I think he felt confident in himself. He's done it year after year, saving penalties, and he's done it already this season against (Manchester) United. Everyone standing on the halfway line and on the sidelines were pretty confident in Tim."
