How do you process what has happened in the last few days?
Relatively easy from my point of view. Naturally I feel comfortable, it's just part of being involved in football. You have to be ready and I am ready. I don't doubt that. It's just business. We've got a really, really big game Thursday and another one on Sunday. The focus on my behalf and the group is just to prepare for that.
What do you want to see Thursday?
A reaction. Absolutely a reaction. Obviously Sunday was disappointing for us and I would hope and expect there's a reaction from not only the players but everyone in the building and everyone involved in the club as well.
What did you make of the gesture of players reimbursing fans?
I'm pleased because our fans are important for us. We value them and need them. I understand that relationship has wavered recently but there's no doubt we need them and want them on board, and hopefully Thursday they can feel us.
READ MORE: Tottenham striker suffers season-ending injury and the hunt for Fabio Paratici's replacement
You have been in this position before, how have you evolved since your first spell?
Just confirmation that I'm absolutely ready for this sort of situation. We handled it well two years ago. A lot has happened in the last two years but I feel fine and ready in this situation.
Antonio Conte said earlier in the season that he sensed the players didn't want to play under stress and under pressure to achieve what he wanted to achieve, have you seen this in this squad of players?
I'm not going to get drawn into any comments on the past. My focus in on Thursday and Sunday. We've got six games before the end of the season to have a positive run. One thing I will say I believe in this group and this football club.
Are they lacking confidence as simple as that?
I've been in football long enough to know things can turn around very quickly. I believe in the group and what I and we all want to do. We have to transmit that to the pitch.
Daniel Levy says Harry Kane can win a trophy at Spurs and a statue could be built outside the stadium, do you agree he deserves a statue? Also, can you play any part in your role to help and convince Kane to extend his contract?
For me personally honestly it is not about individuals in this moment, it is about the group of players, the staff that are involved, the club as a whole. The season is not over yet. We have six games, six important games as well so the focus isn't on any individual. It's on the group, and that's not going to change.
Can all the talk of Kane's contract going into the final 12 months be a distraction going into games?
There's always talk at a club like this. When you're involved at a club like this there's going to be talk but most importantly we need to be close in the changing room, in this training centre. If we're compact in here that will transfer onto the pitch and speculation is speculation ultimately. That won't affect us in the changing room.
With Mauricio Pochettino looking set to be the next Chelsea boss will that take some processing?
From my point of view, no. The focus is on inside here. We won't listen to and look at the outside noise. Because there's going to be outside noise. We have to focus on our job and our job is to get results on football pitch, and my feeling is that comes from the training ground so that's our only focus right now.
You've served the club as a player and a coach, is this the most challenging time you've ever had at Spurs?
Honestly, I am not sure. From my point of view, not thinking about all the challenges and negatives. I believe we can make a positive impact. We have a game on Thursday to try and react and get back to winning ways as soon as possible. So the feeling and the thought isn't on the whole situation - it's about how we're going to influence the players and get some positivity back.
What type of reaction are you expecting?
Yeah, a reaction because as a professional when you have a result like we did you expect a reaction. Honestly, I think that that takes care of itself as we were hurting but ultimately that is a couple of days now and our focus is on Thursday and we believe that we can get a positive result.
At home against difficult opposition, what role will fans have tomorrow?
Obviously massive and it's our home and they will need to be with us but at the same time, we need to get them with us as well so that is our job as a group that we give them something to cheer about.
What did you make of Manchester United vs Brighton in the FA Cup and what do you expect from them tomorrow?
Obviously two good teams and United have won a trophy and they have enjoyed a relatively good season we understand that it’s going to be a difficult game but ultimately we are at home and we can get a positive result.
What is the gap between Spurs and Man United?
I’m not thinking about that, I have a game on Thursday and my focus is that I’m getting a result on Thursday. How big the gap is irrelevant to me, my focus is on the game and trying and get a result.
Are you surprised that two years after taking on this job you are back in this position again?
Nothing surprises me in football, I have been coaching for the best part of six years and things happen in football and you just have to be ready and prepared.
Do you want the job full-time?
Yeah obviously I’m ready and if that situation happens it obviously means I have done a good job. But that is obviously in the future of four five six weeks’ time, like I said the immediate thought is the game on Thursday and the game on Sunday. We have big weeks before anyone in here can start to think of that situation.
As someone who loves the club, how much have you been hurt by the past few days?
I hurt when we lose like our players and fans and we know that in recent weeks or month, it hasn’t been good enough of what we expected and like I said football can change quickly and I hope we can put in the performance to forget that.
Lot of experience with you in Chris Powell, Nigel Gibbs, Paul Bracewell, there's a lot of experience to lean on?
Absolutely, yeah, I think that's where I feel fortunate. I have been coaching six years, which I think is a long time. I have spent a lot of time on grass, but, probably more importantly for me, the people I have worked with and come across have accelerated my growth as an individual. Of course there's many people I trust and value their opinion in this training centre and also outside who I am always in communication with.
Will the formation be what we have seen the rest of the season or will you try and change things around?
I think from my point of view at the moment is to get some sort of energy and some sort of positivity back into the group. But not only the group, the fans and the club have to be realistic as well when you have two training sessions/three training sessions before two games. It's hard to change a great deal but I would hope and expect towards the end of the season that everyone, not only inside but outside, will see my stamp and our stamp on the group.
How is Hugo Lloris? Is he available?
For the game on Thursday we are still unsure. Obviously had a muscle problem so we are still seeing how that is settling down. Time will tell on that on.
Are Ben Davies and Clement Lenglet in a position now to start games?
We're going to review them today, we have training in the afternoon. We're going to have to see them today. Both of them have been out. Clem came off in a game recently and Ben has been out for a period of time, so I think we will have a better idea on that one after training today.
Spurs fans have had a tough time of it of late, what would be your message to fans?
Listen, I have been involved in this football club a long time and my belief is that our fans are amazing and one of the best in the world. We want to get them on board and we want to get them with us. The only way to do that is to put in performances that warrant that. We understand that and we know that. I don't think there'll be any doubt that they'll be with us on Thursday night.
Have you seen a reaction from players in training?
Obviously it has only been a couple of days. We haven't been able to train a great deal but we are hurting from that result so that takes care of itself in terms of hopefully getting a reaction.
How difficult have last few games been being assistant, knowing your ready?
No, I have always said what this club feels best for me in this period of my career, I will do. We felt that was best, the club felt that was best so I was absolutely happy to do that. Obviously it didn't go as we had all planned but we're in this situation now where we can focus on the next six games. Hopefully we can have a positive impact on the rest of the season and set us up for next season.
After a 6-1 loss, how did you lift the players?
No, them sort of things stay in the changing room, stay in the training pitch. That is how I want to manage the group and how I will approach it. That type of thing stays in this training centre.
This time you start your six Premier League games in charge with Manchester United and Liverpool, is that an even tougher ask than before?
I think it is a different situation. We obviously had a cup final that weekend I took over last time, so every situation is different but like I say we have a period of time now where we can prepare as much as we can to try and get a result. Obviously when you have weeks leading into games you can influence a little bit more but we understand the situation. We're realistic in what we can and can't do on the training pitch and how much we can put into them. Thursday we're aware is a big game for us.
Have you spoke to Daniel Levy, is he hurting?
Yeah obviously from a club point of view the situation we're in now is not where we wanted to be or expected to be at the start of the season but ultimately that's football. It happens sometimes and we can't get caught up on things that have happened. We all understand we have to finish this season well and strong and united as a group within this training ground. That is my job ultimately to do that.
READ NEXT:
Tottenham players reimburse supporters who travelled to watch Newcastle debacle
- How Julian Nagelsmann would transform Tottenham and help Daniel Levy after Stellini exit
Daniel Levy's strange message and what the Tottenham chairman will be expecting this week
- The incredible list of ex-Tottenham stars playing in a remarkable fundraising match next month
Tottenham complete transfer for talented young defender and striker signs new deal with the club
