What's the latest team news?
Arnaut Danjuma is available, he is a player we can use tomorrow in the game. We have only one problem, with Harry [Kane], because he played the last game full of illness. He didn’t train during the week, he trained this morning, but he wants to come with us and be available. We know very well that Harry wants to play every game, so we are happy that Harry is involved in the game, but the only situation we have to take care is this.
Tell us more about Saturday's team meeting ahead of the Fulham game and how important it was?
That meeting happened what you said: is a point of start, of restart. That game was a tough game, we played a great match, we were playing with a perfect approach. This is a point of change of the mentality, we spoke a lot about it, and we have to do it. We have to change the mentality, from the start until the end of the game. Every game we have to do the same. Antonio had a great speech about this.
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Have you noticed a change in Antonio since that game?
It’s very difficult to feel that Antonio is not determined, it’s very difficult. But, the way he celebrated, maybe he can let [people] understand, in my opinion, that he feels love around him. This is really important. This is really important, that the fans are with us, are with the team, are with the players, are with the club, and are with Antonio as well. I think his reaction came from what he expected from the game. He wants to see the players fight, with him, and with everyone. I think his celebration was about this. It’s fine to feel that feeling for him.
The Spurs fans want a trophy, how important does that make this FA Cup game?
Many times, many times, when I was here, we speak about a trophy, a cup to win. I don’t want to push, to create pressure on this. We have to change the mentality. The last game was a good start point to change this. And with the change of the mentality, you don't have to talk about winning trophies, you have to do it. It’s the fact. Not the words you say. It’s the facts. I don't want to push or give pressure on a trophy or another and there is no one trophy easier than another. It is difficult to work on the mentality, we try to do it and we want to be a team that can win a trophy.
What was wrong with the mentality before during this season?
The approach of the game. We conceded too many goals and we have to spend energy to recover in a match. We know very well this is a fact, this is stats. We have to approach the game in the right way. We have three phases in a game. Offensive, defensively and transition and we have to be well-prepared in every situation and set-pieces as well so this is the mentality.
Do you make changes at Preston or keep same team to keep momentum going?
No, we think that every game we prepare, every game we are preparing to play we pick the best team to try to win. We can do a change, we are here enough time to have players ready to play one game and some changes where nothing happens (to the level) with some changes. The only player we can realise that is not ready like the others is Arnaut because he is a new player. We are happy but we need to give him time to understand everything.
The level has dropped defensively this season, what changed?
The analysis is there is no only a defensive line that works for the defensive situation. It is a team that defends, it is a team that attack. Maybe if we compare this season, we have many more individual mistakes and I repeat we need to be good in the approach of the game.
How do you improve confidence for the second half of the season?
Do the best of our job.
If someone wanted to play against Preston that needed rest, would you tell that someone to rest even if they wanted to play?
Until the last minute, we don't say to any player that you don't play, you rest. We prepare the game and leave the players think they can play this game and then in the end Antonio makes a decision and some players can have rest. For sure, we have some change but we have many players ready to play this game.
Is the FA Cup a break in the pressure of the Premier League?
No. There's no break. There's no break. It's an important game, an important trophy and we want to honour this trophy, this cup and this competition, so no there is no break.
You've now worked with Arnaut Danjuma briefly, what have you made of him and what are his strengths?
He has experience because he's played good Champions League last season. He is a player that can play like a striker or a winger. He has a lot of positions he can cover. So we are happy and we are looking forward to working with him. We want to discover [more about him]. It's normal at this point in the season, in January, you need time to give him all the information to play in our team. So we are happy, we want to work with him and we are looking forward to working with him.
What do you think will be his best position in Antonio's team?
It depends on the system we use. In the system we use normally he could be a number 10 or a striker. This is the way we want to work with him. We said many times that we need a player to change [matches]. This season we lost Lucas and we need the players to add to our rotation and it's good to have him.
You've worked extensively with Yves Bissouma, why do you think he hasn't he been able to find his form of last season yet?
Because it's different the club he plays, different expectation on every game. Bissouma, when you change the club you need to understand quickly the moment. Sometimes when you play every game then you start to be a player that gives rotation to you team it's not easy for Bissouma, but for all the players.
You have to understand what is your position in the team and what the team needs from you. Not in every club is the same. Maybe Biss needed time. At the moment we are happy with him, he's a player we can use in every game.
You said a couple of weeks ago that you didn't think Bryan Gil would leave on loan this month, do you still believe that after the arrival of another attacker in Danjuma?
It's not a question that I can answer because I'm not involved in these types of decisions. My opinion is the same as three weeks ago so nothing has changed for me.
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