Nuno Espirito Santo
Nuno Espirito Santo has faced the media in his first press conference since leaving Wolves. Nuno left his post at Molineux at the end of last season by mutual agreement after four seasons with the club. Portuguese counterpart Bruno Lage has since replaced him at the Wolves helm ahead of the 2021-22 Premier League season. Nuno, meanwhile, has remained in the Premier League after being appointed Tottenham Hotspur boss. He spoke to the press on Friday ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against Leyton Orient this weekend, as reported by our colleagues at football.london.
Asked if he would be trying to replicate anything he did at Wolves,
Nuno Espirito Santo replied: “Each club, each group of players has their own characteristics. Everything is different, a different approach. I am very proud of the moment I worked in Wolves, so much love and respect, but move forward and I am so proud of being here. Every group of players is different, we have to look at them, find and know them better so we can find to make their job easier, to make the best solutions so they can perform better.”
Nuno was also asked if he had considered taking time out from the game after leaving Wolves.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “I think since the beginning of the pandemic I think we were in Greece and it was the first impact that we had that things are going to be different and things are going to change. We suffered a lot during this period, every one of us. Of course you think about what you want from your life, what you consider. Many thoughts, many thoughts, many decisions. Since that period I think there was a spirit of mission to help football to come again the way I expected it to be at the beginning of this season. I committed to that, to make everything I could to help football come good. I believe it’s going to be better than ever. After all these moments of reflection I am happy I’m in the game.”
Asked why he felt Spurs was the right club for him,
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “I am here, this is where I want to be, I am so happy. It’s been great, it’s been great since we arrived. Hard work, hard work – all about pre-season trying to commit everybody that we have to work really hard. The boys have been great. Fantastic – the attitude and commitment, and delighted to be here.”
Nuno also addressed the future of Tottenham star striker Harry Kane, who is being linked with a big-money move to Manchester City this summer.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “Harry is our player, period. No need to talk about anything else. Now is the moment for Harry to recover his energy, to rest (after Euro 2020). When he comes again we will have time to speak. We will have good conversations, but now is the moment for Harry to rest and to prepare for what’s coming, and I’m looking forward to him joining the group and start working together.”
Nuno described Kane as one of the best players in the world and said he was excited to work with him. Asked if he needed clarity on Kane’s future,
Nuno Espirito Santo responded: “I have no doubts in my mind. I have no doubts. What I wish is for Harry to recover well, to have a good rest and when he arrives he will feel that everyone of us has to commit ourselves to become better. We are very ambitious, we are ambitious people and we want to do it well and no doubts on Harry on that.”
