Ex-Tottenham skipper hails Alex Morgan influence and reveals striker reduced starstruck student to tears
Sandra Brobbey
Updated: Dec 22 2020, 12:17 ET
JENNA SCHILLACI says she is disappointed to see the end of Alex Morgan's spell at Tottenham as she hailed the star's impact on the team.
And the ex-Spurs skipper revealed one of her college students became emotional after meeting the player who inspired her to take up the game.
Former Tottenham captain Jenna Schillaci says Alex Morgan had a "massive impact" on the teamCredit: PA:Press Association
Morgan, 31, will return to Orlando Pride in January after a short stint in North London.
The two-time World Cup winner spent just three months on loan after giving birth to her daughter Charlie in May this year.
And the US star, who used her time to regain fitness and recover from a knee injury, made just five appearances in the top tier scoring twice.
Although Morgan's loan was brief, Schillaci believes her influence has made a big difference to Tottenham and to girls harbouring ambitions to play.
Schillaci told talkSPORT 2's Women's Football Weekly: "I think it's disappointing in the sense that she is going home now when she is just getting back to her form.
"She had a massive impact on the players even just being around the team for them in the three months that she was here.
"I coach on a college programme in Southgate and she came over one afternoon to meet my girls. It was then I realised how much of a superstar she is.
"My girls never stopped talking, one of them was crying. They were so nervous and they were absolutely starstruck."
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"She spent an hour of her time in the freezing cold, pouring rain and she was actually asking them questions in the end because they were so nervous.
"One of the girls in a passing statement said, 'Alex Morgan is the reason I play football.'
"We fed that back to Alex after her appearance she invited that player down to the Tottenham match against Aston Villa.
"For that player - Bridget - she will remember that for the rest of her life."
Tottenham will face Birmingham when the WSL returns to action in January.
It will be the first league game Rehanne Skinner's team, who are eighth, will play without Morgan in their squad.
Jenna Schillaci believes Alex Morgan's arrival in the WSL was a boost for the leagueCredit: Getty Images - Getty
And Schillaci, who made 200 appearances in Spurs central defence before retiring this year, reckons the striker's influence will be missed.
Schillaci added: "She had her injury struggles which obviously limited her time and halted her getting back to fitness.
"The impact she had just on the training pitch for the younger girls has been massive."
Tottenham signing Alex Morgan shows off her skills on the training pitch
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