What is team news ahead of Liverpool?
Hugo won't be available Sunday. The other injuries we're assessing day by day. The lads haven't trained yet so we're going to see how they're feeling in training this afternoon and also tomorrow leading into the game.
I suppose coming to training today will be a lot better as it has been a tough few weeks?
Of course, it's a process we want to follow & continue in terms of creating a togetherness and everyone feeling part of something. The second half was positive yesterday but we're aware we have no time to prepare for a game at Anfield on Sunday. But we're going to recover, go there as a team and hopefully get a positive result.
Tottenham are fifth after last night, this could still be a positive end to the season?
In football, negativity can spread very quickly but so can positivity. If you create a good feeling and energy, it can accelerate a process. Hopefully we'll continue with what we saw in the second half but also the first half as well because I know Man United score two goals, had some openings and were probably the better side in the first half. But we were together, we had belief in what we were doing and it's important we continue in this way.
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Spurs have been in Europe for 13 straight years, does this club need to be in Europe or would one year off do Spurs some good?
Honestly, the most important thing for this club is to be together & feel like everyone is connected and pulling in the same direction. And then what will happen will happen. But if you're strong inside, you create a good core inside the football club, that will transfer onto the pitch and the football will take care of itself.
What did you make of Harry Kane in the second half against Manchester United as he was unbelievable and everywhere?
He was outstanding. This country probably doesn't appreciate how good he is as a footballer. He's incredible. I was fortune enough to come through the academy, we played together. And be on the other side now and watching as a coach it's a pleasure. I've thought many times in the last couple of seasons. To watch him live, this country should appreciate we've got a real special talent.
He gets stick about not winning things, is that how it is in this country sometimes?
That's people's opinion but I certainly value loyalty and when I see a player showing loyalty, not only on the football pitch but off it as well... He's a family man, he's humble, he's hard working and if I'm speaking to any kid in this academy and around the world he's a role model to so many people. Not just children but adults as well and we're lucky to have him here.
Daniel Levy says Harry Kane could get a statue at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, you can't imagine Tottenham without Kane could you?
Listen the future is the future, it's important that we focus on right now. Our fans love him, we all love him here, we appreciate him at this football club.
Second half there was a big improvement, is the tactical change you made at half-time something we could see at Liverpool and beyond?
Listen, it's not about me, it wasn't about me, we had players on the football pitch that were the ones who turned it around. Obviously it's our job as coaches to try to help them, and guide them, and make changes to influence games. Thankfully the boys reacted, we had a positive reaction at half-time.
It was important we got the next goal, I felt like the momentum was with us for maybe a 20 or 30 minute spell, it was like we were getting many chances and we created some clear openings. So to see the second one go in the back of the net was pleasing. And then also to see it out at the end, because I thought the lads put so much effort into it from a physical point of view, but also emotionally as well. To stay strong together at the end was a positive as well.
That must help going into a game at Anfield?
Yeah I think so. But I'd probably reiterate what I just said, we've pretty much got no time whatsoever. The game's almost 48 hours from now. So it's a really really quick turnaround. So we've got to focus on recovery as much as possible, to prepare the game from a tactical point of view, and also see how the boys have reacted from last night.
Liverpool have been good at home, how do you go about trying to upset that?
Listen, we focus on ourselves. We feel confident that whenever we have the ball against any opposition we can hurt them because we've got quality players. But at the same time we have to respect who we're coming up against. And be a team, be humble together and work hard for each other and hopefully get a positive result.
Managing at Anfield is something you will be doing on Sunday, what can you expect from that?
I've played there, I know what it's like. Playing football and coaching in England is special, wherever I go, because it's the country that I'm born in, the country that I love, and I feel like it's the best country in the world to be involved in football with. So from a personal point of view, the biggest pride I have is representing this football club, it's not going up to compete against anyone else, it's the fact that I'm here and I'm trying to help the club as best as possible.
Has there been some channelled anger at the football club in the last few days?
I think naturally when you have a result like we did last Sunday, there should be anger. I might have said it in the press conference before the game, I wanted to see an angry team. Because as members of staff, as players, as professionals, and I'm sure our fans at home as well, were angry with how the weekend went.
That type of thing took care of itself. That was a natural reaction to feel those sort of emotions. It was key for us to try to take it into the game. But at the same time, with a clear head as well.
The last time you did this you were going into a cup final and now you're going into all these games. How easy is it for you to change what's going on when you're often slammed by events and matches going on?
Obviously the schedule we've had this week is very tough and demanding, but that is the Premier League and the business we're in. That's why we have a squad of players, we trust all of them and can rely on all of them. Our main focus is preparing for this game on Sunday. We understand what we're going to face and we have take care of ourselves as a group and go there with full belief that we can get a result.
It's a crucial game as Liverpool are putting a run together and could get top four?
Honestly I think this game is always big just because of the history of the two football clubs. We understand we've got five games left until the end of the season and the game on Sunday won't determine the outcome of the season, but of course we understand that Tottenham and Liverpool at any stage of the season in any circumstances is going to be a big game for the players and fans as well.
Both teams with a point to prove?
I can't speak for Liverpool, they're their own club in their own situation. I've said for us it is about being together and creating that togetherness and going there strong as a team and a team that everyone can look at us and say we see a group of players working for each other.
What did you make of Richarlison's performance last night?
I thought he helped us, he'd done exactly what I thought he would do. He caused them a lot of problems running in the channels and created a bit of physicality for us. Obviously he's had a bit of time out and you could probably see that in terms of lack of rhythm at times.
He's that type of player that causes a lot of trouble. Once he scores that goal and gets that confidence then we might see a different type of player.
Are regular minutes also key to seeing him at his best?
We've got a squad of players that we need to decide the best team to win a game of football. We felt last night Richy the profile of player he is could help us and we spoke before about having a bit of anger and showing a reaction. I think Richy naturally is that type of player as he likes having a bit of physical contact and I was very pleased with his performance last night.
How much of a threat is Trent Alexander-Arnold this weekend as he's now playing in a more central role?
Obviously we're talking about an exceptional footballer but they've got many different players who can cause us problems. They've proven that over the years and we're aware of that. The focus for us isn't on one individual as it's about stopping them as a team and also it's about us acting as a team with the ball and hopefully hurting them as well.
Spurs have not had much success at Anfield in recent years, do you think there may be an inferiority complex in the group and how do you change that?
No, every game is different and we have to approach every game with the mindset of being in the present and in that moment. It's a difficult place to go, we're aware of that, and as you rightly say I think recent history probably suggests that.
I don't think on Sunday years gone by is going to influence the outcome of the match or the mindset we approach it with. We're going to be confident and confident in our ability and if we perform to our best with the ball we can hurt them.
What have you made of Danjuma as a player and what he can offer?
Yeah we're recovering some players in the attacking positions. We've had quite a few injuries in those positions. He is a player with energy and is a player who can also arrive in goal-scoring positions quite often when he plays. I want to see him keep working hard on the training pitch and giving us a problem when we're selecting the team.
Richarlison played on left and Son on right, what was your thinking behind that?
I felt like we could exploit them in the channels and naturally for Richy the left side is probably better for him and he can score from that side. We've seen with Sonny over the years, whether he is on his right or left foot, from outside the box or cutting inside, he can score goals. So, we wanted to keep the goal threat from both channels and I felt like we had that.
Obviously in the first half we probably wasn't as clinical as we would have liked, but at the same time the players felt every time we had the ball we could hurt them. Going forward that's important for us.
Is Kane dropping deeper on purpose?
There's some plans we do like to give Harry guidance on where we feel space might be but at the same time we're talking about honestly one of the most intelligent and best players in the world. To take that instinctiveness away from him is for me something we don't want to do.
If Harry feels like he needs to come very deep and take the ball from the defenders at times, then he can do that because he has the passing ability to affect games from every area of the pitch. I think we saw last night that once again Harry Kane is probably one of the best strikers in the world.
Is the message to Kane to get a feel for game?
Yeah we have different tactical plans for every opposition and we understood yesterday that we probably had one of the best strikers in the world coming up against probably one of the best defensive midfielders in the last decade, so that was going to be a key battle.
I thought Harry influenced the game. He created the second goal but at the same time he was constantly involved and the more touches Harry gets of the ball we feel like the more chances we'll create.
You mentioned on Wednesday that age not a barrier to being a manager, do you get encouragement from Vincent Kompany and Michael Carrick doing so well in the Championship?
Yeah I mean I have never doubted my personal ability because I have worked hard for the last six years spending many hours on the grass and coached a lot to get a good understanding for it. At the same time, I like seeing young managers do well and probably more so young English managers because I think the route for us is probably quite difficult at times.
Yeah, that's part of football, the more younger managers we get is good and exciting for people, but at the same time you've got to get results. That's the business. If you don't get results, unfortunately it becomes difficult.
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