What's the latest team news?
As you know very well, we have many, many injuries and then there is always the Covid
situation everyday, that you have to check.
Sometimes you find a surprise, but we are preparing the game against Arsenal.
I think in this moment, all the teams are suffering injury problems, Covid situation,
and international competition, and Tottenham the same.
You know very well, you have seen the bench, our bench during the game against Chelsea.
I can understand that we are in a moment where we have to try to recover very soon the players
that are injured.
How hopeful are you of signings this window, or players going out like Steven Bergwijn?
Steven Bergwijn, for example, is a player that has recovered from his injury.
He had two training sessions with us.
For sure he is not 100 per cent fit in this moment, but I needed him to come on the bench,
to stay with us.
I asked him his availability for the game against Arsenal, because for me he's an important
option after Son was injured.
In this moment we have only two strikers, Harry and Lucas, and then there is Bergwijn,
and then also there is Scarlett, he is also recovering from an injury.
Will Tanguy Ndombele leave this month?
In this moment Tanguy Ndombele is a Tottenham player.
For this reason, you have to consider him a Tottenham player.
Are Arsenal and Spurs at a similar level at the moment?
Honestly, I want to play the game and to understand very well.
I think that they’re working, they’ve started to work and to build something important.
They had more time than us and Arteta has the possibility to work with the players for
a couple of years.
Also to go in the transfer market.
I think they’re doing a good job in this moment but maybe for this reason they’re
ahead in the project than us because they have started before [us] with the same coach.
Now they’re having good results.
Arsenal is a really good team, but we want to understand, to play this type of game and
we want to know how much we’re improving from the last period.
What's more important for you this season, to finish in the top four or rebuild the foundations?
For me, the most important thing is to get the best out of my players.
I don’t know which can be the final result but for sure we have a path in front of us
that’s very difficult and we have to start to rebuild and to bring Tottenham in the correct
position from the past.
For sure, we know very well we have to work a lot and changed many aspects compared to
the past.
Did you realise the size of the task at Tottenham would be as big as this?
[Laughs].
I decided to accept this job because to work in this environment, to work in a modern club
is good I think for every coach.
Then, as you know very well, I said this maybe in the last press conference, when you’re
outside you can imagine the situation no?
Then, when you’re inside the situation, you can understand every aspect very well.
Now, I repeat, it’s time to work.
I made my evaluations about the situation, but now I think no words but facts.
We have only to work to try to improve the situation that I have found here.
Can you give the fans assurances that you’ll see out your contract?
You know very well that I signed a contract and we agreed, Tottenham and I, the length
of the contract.
I think was good for me to see the situation and for the club to understand the coach they’re
going to work with.
Now, I repeat, I’m enjoying my time in Tottenham.
I found a fantastic atmosphere, a great stadium, a great training ground, our fans are incredible
because they always back us from the start to the end, and I’m enjoying my time in
Tottenham.
For sure, we want and I want to improve the situation.
I think all the people, we want and deserve much more than this.
You're such an energetic person on the touchline but you've seemed a bit subdued and frustrated
recently, do you agree with that and if so why?
I don’t think so.
You have to ask the referee or fourth official if I was calm against Chelsea!
He would be surprised by this question.
For sure, during my management I have to try to see when I stay calm the answer of all
my players.
This is a strategy.
I can drive the car but sometimes the driver can stay seated and calm.
It’s part of the process to give more responsibility to my players.
If I want to force myself to live the game in another way, it’ll be very, very difficult,
but sometimes I have to stay seated and leave my players to make the best decision and face
the game during the difficulties.
It’s part of the process to improve
their responsibility during the game.
For sure, I’m very strong and I’ll be very strong towards the end of the season.
Will you have players back for Sunday who weren't available against Chelsea?
We had a meeting after the game versus Chelsea and I showed them positive and negative situations.
I’ve seen improvements in the last game, especially if you compare to the first game
vs Chelsea.
In the second game, we improved, we created many problems for Chelsea, we had many chances
to score.
I think the final result was not right but at the end Chelsea deserved to reach the final.
I spoke with the players and the players are the same with my line.
My players want to improve and we’re seeing the improvement.
Then, as you know very well, you can improve but you need time to improve the quality of
our players.
Do you have any new Covid cases?
Yeah we’re checking one situation.
Is Eric Dier fit?
Is Tanguy Ndombele set to return?
About Eric Dier, he’s suffering a little problem.
A little muscular problem.
He’s not fit for the game against Arsenal.
It’s a pity, I repeat.
Now it’s important for us to play these three games before the international break
and then to recover important players.
For us, much more than other teams it’s very, very important to recover all the important
players.
Yeah, it's life for us to recover these players.