You spoke in one interview this week about the club having a one per cent chance of finishing in the top four, do you stand by that?
During my interview, I said this and like always, before going to Inter Milan and my first interview, they asked me about the target, and I said I needed to feel one per cent possibility to win. In that case with Inter Milan we were talking about winning the league because don’t forget I'm used to fighting to win the league.
In this case, they asked me about the Champions League and I said I need to feel 1 per cent possibility to fight for a Champions League place. For sure this is not my target, for sure this is not my target but when I decide to come here, I understood that the only target we could fight for would be this.
Do you believe that your squad was weakened in the January transfer window?
I’ve already answered that. During the interview after the transfer window, after January ended, they asked me about the club, if I was happy, and I said the club did the best that the club could do. We lost four players and I said (raises his voice) important players for Tottenham, because these players that we sent away on loan, Tottenham paid a lot of money. When you spend a lot of money, it means we are talking about important players for the club.
To pay attention to the future because we need players used to playing in this league and in my last interview, I said numerically, when you lost four players, important players for Tottenham, I repeat because they spent a lot of money, and you sign two players.
If I had 20 players and now I have 18 players numerically, you can be a bit weaker...numerically. Then I said also with Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, as a squad we are more complete. I think I was very, very clear.
I don’t understand why someone wants to try to create a problem with me. Not only me but also in the past. I read stories in the past about this club and it creates a problem with the coach and the chairman and the club. The chairman knows very well my thoughts. It’s not important for me to go to the media and speak to the media.
If I have to speak with him, I go to speak with him. Sorry but I was a bit disturbed by this situation, especially because I had an interview with the Italian media. It means the club now doesn’t want me to speak to Italian media because the translation was not so clear with my thoughts.
So there's no feeling that you've been misled by Spurs?
I always said I’m enjoying my time with Tottenham, enjoying working with these players. I always said this. Then we have four months at the end of this season and we have to try to do our best to finish in the best place possible in this league and then we’ll see.
What is the team news ahead of the game?
I like when we can speak about football and not other situations! Dier is available, fit and OK. Skipp's working, getting better but he’s not ready. Tanganga is the same. We have recovered Steven Bergwijn because three days ago he had a little problem in his calf but now he’s available. So only two players are not available for the game against City.
Two of the world’s elite managers are facing off, do you enjoy that challenge?
For sure, it’ll be an interesting game for us. But I don’t think that it’s right to consider it a special game because there is the best coaches in the world [in the dugouts]. It’s a game between two teams, one team that’s maybe the best in the world and almost perfect. They’re in a fantastic period of form. That's one side. On the other side is a team trying to build something important for the future.
At this moment, two different levels. At the same time, we prepared the game very well. We know that tomorrow we’re going to suffer. We know very well that problem tomorrow, like in every game, Manchester City will keep the ball for 70-80 percent. But at the same time in the other 20 percent we have to be good, be effective, attack in the right way
When they have the ball, be compact and tactically perfect. If you want a good result against Manchester City at the moment, you have to be perfect at the moment. You have to know you have to suffer as a team, to find the situations to try to hurt them.
How long will this project at Spurs take until you're as good as City?
It’s difficult to answer this question. We’re talking about a fantastic team. They’re working with the same coach for many years.
They have the possibility to, also in these years, go into the market and spend a lot of money.
For sure, Pep is doing a fantastic job but in every club that he trained he had fantastic results. Important clubs, because Barcelona is an important club, Bayern Munich is an important club, now Manchester City is an important club but for sure great compliments to him, because to play against his team is not simple, not easy for anyone.
I think they’re the best favourite to win the Premier League, to be ahead 10 means in this league you’re very very strong. Also in the Champions League you have seen their last game, to go away and win 5-0 against Sporting Lisbon means you are a perfect team, in your hands.
Do you have any Covid problems in the squad this week?
Yes, we have one problem. Yes, one problem, yes, yes.
Is that player not available for tomorrow?
Yes. Yes. Sorry for before, I didn’t consider this situation, this situation. Tomorrow we’ll miss three players.
