What's the latest team news?
We have to wait until tomorrow to check some players because they return from the national team with some physical problems. Tomorrow will be very important, the last training session, to understand the players we can count (on). At the moment we have to wait.
With the racist abuse of Richarlison, time for players to make a stand?
I think that we have to take the good part of the situation, know? Richy played with the national team, scored a goal and then I think what happened is incredible because in 2022 to be witnessing this type of situation is embarrassing for everybody. For sure I hope these people can be banned from football for the rest of all their lives but then it is a situation that is very disappointing also to make a comment about this. I want to take the best part of the game from Richy and he scored two goals, three goals and he enjoyed to play with Brazil.
READ MORE: Dejan Kulusevski injury update as Tottenham boss Antonio Conte faces decision for Arsenal match
Do Arsenal have the advantage for example with no Gabriel, Jesus or Martinelli being called up for Brazil?
It is difficult to tell something about this. For sure I have seen many clubs are having big problems with players that play these two games and for sure Tottenham is one of these clubs. Then you know very well there is only one month and a half to the start the World Cup and you have to understand also the national team and the players, this was their last games to show they deserve to play at the World Cup.
Also for the coach the last period to call the players and to understand before they call the 23 players for the World Cup but for sure to play so many games before the international break and then now to play 13 games in 43 days is crazy. It is crazy and for sure we have to face with injuries. I always say in this period you understand which squad is really competitive, in this period because when you go to play every three days, you face players that have injuries, that are tired and then this is the moment that you understand which are the title contenders or the team that is competitive to play for the Champions League, for the best position.
Is it important to go top at this early stage?
You know very well that these eight games that we are going to play, we have just started this league. For sure Arsenal had a fantastic start and they lost only one game against United. They are showing to be a really good team. I think that in the summer they made really good signings for them and improved the team that don't forget last season in the last three games they were four points up from us so it means we are talking about a really good team that in the last season we did a really good job to overcome them in the last three games.
At the same time I know the quality of this team. I know they are working with Arteta for many years, they are really well organised and Arteta I said last season he is a really good coach. He is young but he can have in front of him a great career. We know that Arsenal are one of the six teams that try to take the best position in the Premier League.
Son Heung-min scored another goal from a free-kick, would you like to see him take more for Spurs?
Yeah, but Sonny is one of the three players who have the task of taking set pieces. We have him, Harry [Kane] and Eric Dier. For sure now he's in great confidence because he scored but already before he was one of these three players that can take set pieces.
Should this be the last time the World Cup is played in winter?
For sure this decision was a different decision [laughs) compared to the last World Cup. You know very well we're used to playing the World Cup during the summer at the end of the season. When the players and also the coach they have the possibility to work for two or three weeks with the players.
This World Cup, in my opinion, is very difficult also for the coach. They finish playing on Sunday and they start playing after a week. It means that you don't have the possibility to work, to organise, to work with your played. A lot of difficult but you know very well that a lot of time in football, business is before sport. I think this case this is the reason the World Cup is being played in winter.
Is it a worry that players will be distracted by the World Cup?
You know that this is the first time we're facing this situation. You can ask me many questions about this but (laughs) in this moment I'm not able to answer you because this is the first time we're living this situation of a World Cup during the league.,
I think we have to discover what happens in this period and after the World Cup. Honestly we are not prepared because it's the first time for everybody. For this reason we're trying to understand during the World Cup what are the best solutions, the time you have to give your players to rest, if it is better to go abroad to work in another place or stay here.
You don't know when your players are coming back after the World Cup. Many questions and only time can solve the situation. For sure there's a lot of curiosity. This is the first time for everybody. For this reason I don't think someone has an advantage and another doesn't. We are all in the same situations.
Spurs fans are worried that you keep getting linked with the Juventus job?
(Laughs) It's incredible that in this period and I think this is disrespectful for the Juventus coach and disrespectful for me [when] working for Tottenham. We've just started the season. Many times I spoke about this topic and I always said to you I'm happy and enjoying my time with Tottenham. Then we have the whole season to find the best solution for the club and for me.
And for sure, I'm enjoying the time working for Tottenham, to work for Tottenham, with these players. I have a great relationship with the owner and Paratici. I don't see a problem for the future. Now it's important to be focussed. We signed a contract because both parties agree to sign this contract. I don't see a problem in this moment. And I don't want in the future to listen to someone speak about this because it's disrespectful to the other coach and to me.
Have you watched Arsenal's Amazon documentary?
To be honest I didn't finish watching it but for sure in the future I will finish this documentary. I did the same with Tottenham, Manchester City and Juventus because I'm really curious to understand the way to manage the situation for the coach.
I think it was really, really interesting, but Arsenal documentary I started, but didn't finish but in the future for sure I will finish. I think it's positive because this documentary shows behind the scenes. Sometimes I think it's positive to bring us out of our world.
I think you'll like the ending.
(Laughs)
Is anyone definitely unavailable?
Honestly I don't want to speak about the injury because I don't want to give advantage to Arsenal, yeah? But for sure we have to face some problems, some physical problems and we have to know also that we have just started to play the first game in a run that we have to play 13 days in 43 days. For sure we have to try to make the best solution and to try not to take big risks because if we take big risks and lose players for the rest of the games, it will be a disaster. I repeat to play every three days I need to count on the whole squad and we try with the players to also make the best decision.
Are you tempted to go with three in the midfield to match Arsenal?
For sure it could be a good option because we have midfielders who are good also to play in a three. Bissouma when he came in against Leicester played well and he was really good integrating with Pierre [Emile-Hojbjerg] and Rodrigo Bentancur. This could be an option not only for tomorrow but for the future if we need to rest players, especially when you have this type of situation as happened when Kulusevski has this injury. Could be an option.
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