What's the latest team news?
The news is for sure the situation is going to improve, especially for Deki, for Kulusevski. He had a training session in the last few days with us. I think he is going to be ready to play. About Richy and Rodrigo (Bentancur), also both situations are improving.
I think in this moment Deki is much more ready to play and especially don't take risk because for us it is very important to have patience, especially because these are important players for a long period. Now to accelerate the process to risk to recovery and to lose them for a long period again, is not good, is not positive. For this reason we'll see. We have another training session tomorrow to monitor the situation well about Rodrigo and Richy.
Spurs have been linked with Pedro Porro and Leandro Trossard, are the club making progress on transfers?
About the transfer market you know me very well that I don't like to speak a lot. I think in this moment my focus is totally for the team because we have to face important games against Arsenal, then City, the Fulham game and then again the FA Cup. For this moment I am really focused on the pitch then about the transfer market, I am sure the club are trying to monitor the situation.
READ MORE: Qatar Sports Investment meeting with Daniel Levy explained as Tottenham deny funding talks
Mikel Arteta said to trust the process, is it the same for you?
Yeah but usually I don't like to see other teams, other situations because I think for every club there is a different situation. For sure they are doing a really good job but don't forgot that this job started three years ago, maybe three-and-a-half years ago. For this reason many players went out, many players came in and this is normal. Now I think they are showing they are in the right direction. They are first in the Premier League and top of the table, but especially they are deserving to stay in this position. It is not for luck but becaue in every game they showed to be a really good team, a really strong team, a team that showed to be solid.
At the same time I have to look to ourselves and for sure I continue to repeat the same. I think we are working very hard, working very hard. In this 14 months we work strong, we work hard, the whole compartment in Tottenham, to try to build something important, to be more solid. I think we are working in the right direction and we have to continue in this way. At the same time to find a good result because you know very well good results are important for every process.
How are the confidence levels in the squad?
We lost against Aston Villa at home and then we won against away against Crystal Palace, a good game, 4-0. Then in the FA Cup we are in the next round. I think the moment is a good moment because the players want to work, they want to work very hard and they understood the importance after the World Cup to go quickly into football in the Premier League, into the competition FA Cup. For this reason I am seeing them really focused and they know much more than me the importance of this type of game.
Then when you play against important teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, the attention is very high. For me it is not so difficult to keep the focus and to keep the attention for the players. Now I repeat it will be very important and we are really close to recovering all the players in our squad and then to be ready to face this long run until the end of the season.
What is your expectation from the fans on Sunday?
My expectation is always the same. Our fans they never disappointed us because in every moment of the season they show to stay with us in a positive and negative situation. For sure we know very well the importance of this game for the fans, for the rivalry there is between Tottenham and Arsenal. Last season I remember a fantastic atmosphere, an amazing atmosphere and I am sure also in this game we will find the same atmosphere.
Harry Kane is set to break Jimmy Greaves' club record, just how important has he been for Spurs over so many years now?
You know very well much better than me the importance of Harry for us, for Tottenham but also for the national team because with the club and national team he has great numbers. We are talking about a world class striker and for sure he is going to beat every record. I think he deserves this but I want to always underline the other aspect, the human aspect of Harry. We are not only talking about a world class striker but also a really good man, a really good person and for us he is an important point of reference. I am sure that he is going to beat this record and he is doing something incredible. At the same time we try to help him and if he scores, he helps us! This is important to have this exchange of favours.
You and Mikel Arteta are both passionate people on the touchline, how important is it for fans to see that from their managers?
You know I think everyone tries to live the situation in the way they like to live. For sure Arteta is another coach who shows his passion and transfers this to his players on the pitch. But honestly I see a lot of coaches involved during the game because now our job became really difficult.
To see a coach stay sitting on the bench is very difficult. For sure Arteta is a coach like me, we show our passion. What happens on the pitch is the moment, the emotion and nothing can prepare your mind for this. For this reason sometimes you can celebrate in a strange way. This passion is a pure passion and Arteta is another coach who likes to live the game, like to stay on the pitch with his team.
One player you didn't mention in the injury list is Lucas Moura, he's obviously had his problems this season and the club have not taken the option to extend his contract, can you speak about his difficulties this season and his future?
You know this is a decision of the club and for sure this season is a difficult season for Lucas but at the same time for us. Honestly, in my mind when we planned the season Lucas was an important player for us.
But if you see from he start of the season until now Lucas played maybe one game, also with pain in the Champions League against Marseille and also not the whole game with us.
First of all I think the damage is for me and the team. A player like Lucas is a good player. Also last season he helped us reach the Champions League. In my mind, my plan was to have him in my squad but we didn’t have possibility to use him because of the injuries. It was really difficult this season especially because it happened twice that Kulusevski and Richarlison were both injured. To face this wasn’t easy. Then if you ask about the decision of the club, I respect the decision of the club.
If you're not entirely sure when you'll have him fit and you like two players in each position, do you need to bring a new player in that position this month?
But you know when we started the season Lucas was one of the five strikers. We play with the three strikers and he was one of the five strikers and instead with this injury I faced the season with only four strikers and then also you know Gil, we are talking about a young player, a really, really good prospect who struggled with the physical aspect last season. Now we are trying to develop, to accelerate this process because for me it's very important to have an alternative, another option up front. Lucas from start of the season I counted on him but because of the injuries he was never present to help us.
Arsenal were charged for failing to control players in the last two matches, is there a concern they may try to intimidate the referee on Sunday?
No but I think that I like to also in an important game like this, the respect is always at the top, OK? You have to show respect in every situation and especially also with the referee because I know very well the difficult to be a referee, to take decisions. I think to intimidate or to create a bad atmosphere is not fair. I don’t like this. I hate the people that try to do it. Don’t forget that we are talking always about a game of football.
Sometimes it happen in the emotion, I remember very well against Sporting Lisbon, we scored in the 95th minute and then we stayed five minutes to wait for the VAR decision. I was really upset but I never, never lacked the respect of the referee. Then, he sent me away because I went into the pitch but I think in every moment you have to show respect. Don’t forget this is football, an incredible sport and we have to respect each other.
READ NEXT:
Daniel Levy's uncomfortable moment and Antonio Conte's rather hypocritical Tottenham request
Franck Kessie, Tete and Antonio Conte's two Tottenham January transfer window priorities
Dejan Kulusevski was 'terrified' of Tottenham move but admits Conte is 'very nice on the inside'
Emerson Royal responds to Tottenham abuse as January transfer stance revealed
Djed Spence awaits crucial decision, Conte's gift and which Spurs stars will return vs Arsenal
