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What is the team news?
Bad news about Ryan Sessegnon, he had a scan and he has a muscular problem. Maybe we’ll see him after the international break. About Skipp and Tanganga, we are not ready, we have to wait.
What are your thoughts on the Chelsea situation and how will Thomas Tuchel react?
Honestly I have just listened to this situation. This morning we had a training session. It is not easy, is not easy. Honestly, it’s a pity, also because I was coach in this club, in Chelsea, I enjoyed two seasons. Also, I won two titles, I worked in this club. It’s a pity to listen to this situation, it’s not simple for the players, it’s not simple for Thomas Tuchel, for the fans, for the whole environment, Chelsea environment. Honestly, I hope that in general, that this situation between Russia and Ukraine is going to finish, and to find a peace, because it’s too important. And then, other situations that are coming, from this conflict. I think that it’s not right. I hope for the best, for this club. Because I worked in this club, I enjoyed the two seasons. For sure, I love the team, the club, that I worked in the past. Every team that worked in the past I love. I hope for the best for them.
Some people said you didn’t have the right profile to manage Manchester United. Why do people doubt you?
Honestly, I think that when United decided to sack Solksjaer, I signed for Tottenham. I enjoyed to do this, because at that moment, I found this situation very good for me, to work in modern club with fantastic stadium and training ground, with a big task to try to build something important, to build something competitive for the future. And then I signed for Tottenham, it happened after I signed, but honestly, I was very focused, and I am so focused on the Tottenham job, that I didn’t read this. I didn’t read this. The present is Tottenham, for me. I am enjoying a lot to work with this club, with these players, we are trying to improve, to raise our level, this is my target in this moment. I repeat: I am enjoying doing it.
Harry Kane said you have added more strings to his bow, what have you specifically done?
I think that every single player when you start to play football in the moment that you finish your career, and you have space for improvement. Every single player is lucky to have this opportunity, because, during your career, you can have many, many experiences, difference experiences, to learn a lot, to improve your baggage. About Harry, we are talking a world-class striker. I am very lucky to have a player like him, to work with him, because I always said we are talking about a fantastic player, but at the same time he is a fantastic person. He is always available to work, work hard, give example to the other players. He shows me every day the will, desire to improve himself, to try to become stronger, stronger, stronger. I think he can become the best striker in the world.
What did you learn about United’s defeat at Man City and are you expecting a response?
First of all, to play against Manchester City is not easy for every team. I consider City in this moment the best team in the world. They have the best coach in the world, fantastic players, they are working for many years together. To play against City, to get points against City, is not simple. For United, for Tottenham, for Liverpool, for Chelsea, for every team. I think I consider this a game apart. In the first half United played also a good game, because they played high intensity, they tried to put pressure on Manchester City, but it wasn’t enough because Manchester Then then in the second half they played very well. It was very difficult for Manchester United to continue to press high, to give pressure, to keep the same intensity of the first half. Then City exploited the characteristics of their players and they got three points. But I listened to what Pep said, ‘it was maybe the best game that we played’, when he was in City. He said this, that it was the best level that City reached with him in this game. It means that City played an outstanding game and United tried to do their best. But City for sure, I repeat, is a team that to play them is not simple.
Are you worried about Oliver Skipp’s problem and are you confident you’ll have him back before the end of the season?
Yeah, for sure I am a bit worried. I’m a bit worried because he started with a groin pain and then now, we are talking about two months, two months and half, that he is out. The midfield, I don’t have so many midfielders. There is Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Skipp and Winks. To miss for a lot of time Skipp is not simple, and I have to hope also not to have injuries for our midfielders. It happened no? Bentancur had a problem and to have only two midfielders, you have to hope also to finish the game without injuries. For sure this is a problem. I am a bit worried, because in my mind, the mind of the player [Skipp], there was the desire to come back very soon, as soon as possible, but in this moment, if you ask me, a forecast about his return with the team, I don’t have an answer. I don’t have an answer. For this reason I am really worried, because we are talking about a player who was playing very well. We need him, we need to have another midfielder with his type of characteristic.
Matt Doherty has been playing well and you’ve said he’s one of the most improved players during your time at Spurs, what have you worked with him on?
For sure Matt is a player that improved a lot from when I arrived. We work, we work hard, on the tactical aspect, on the physical aspect, with the video, with analysis video. During this process, there are players that improve more quickly than the others, and Matt, I think, he improved a lot in these four and a half months. Now he is showing also personality, to be confident and for me with this system, the wing-backs are very, very important, very important. To have this improvement is good. But at the same time, also the other players showed improvement, Sessegnon, Emerson – he had in the last period a problem, a groin pain. The same for Sergio Reguilon, after Covid. For sure my task is to improve every single player. I am happy when we finish the season and I see my players improve their performances and their football knowledge.
Is it another hamstring injury for Ryan Sessegnon?
Yes we are not talking about a problem, not a new problem, we are talking about a situation that unfortunately is repeating. Not only in this season but also in the past. For sure we have to try with the medical department to find a solution to help this player, but sometimes also, I think that there is a predisposition to have this type of problem and especially muscular problems. He’s very strong physically. Sometimes maybe to be so strong physically, instead of being good for your body, sometimes it can be a problem. If we are much stronger than your body can [handle] – it is difficult to speak because we are talking about science. I think about this topic is better to speak with the doctor rather than me. For sure we are very disappointed. We are very disappointed. We hope to find the best solution to help him not have many injuries. Honestly we were hoping, as for one month and a half he was playing with continuity, also his performances were good, excellent, he was improving. I understand, I have seen the disappointment of the player, he is very frustrated. This is the aspect that I worry because he’s very young to see a player like him frustrated about these injuries, is a pity, and also we have to work with him in the human aspect, to stay very close to him and support him.
