Spurs’ senior communications manager Anthony Marshall starts the press conference with an address to the room: Just before we get started, on behalf of the club I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Paul Jiggins. The tributes over the last 24 hours have encapsulated him perfectly, an outstanding journalist and an even better person. Paul was a regular here for many years as recently as last Friday and whether you’d known him for 10 minutes, 10 hours or 10 years, he had a warmth and with that made everyone feel at home. Press rooms will be poorer and quieter place without Jiggo.
Then the press conference begins.
What is the team news, Japhet Tanganga is out for the season, what about Oliver Skipp?
Skipp is another situation. For Japh, the medical department tried until the end to find the solution but I think in the end it was the best solution for Japh and the doctors to have this surgery to clean his knee. He’ll be ready next season. About Skippy, I hope to have him after the international break. His pain is getting better and better. About Ryan, we’re waiting four weeks to have another scan and then if everything is OK he’ll restart training sessions with us.
READ MORE: New Oliver Skipp contract, the obligation to sign Kulusevski and Conte’s mysterious Romero words
How good has the impact of Bentancur and Kulusevski been and does this show how Spurs need to recruit in the transfer market?
For sure, to come in in the way that they did, in a short period, was positive for us. It’s important when you sign young players to understand that the league is very difficult and before signing new players you have to check many qualities. He has to be good technically, you can work and be good tactically and you can work to improve this situation but at the same time they have to be strong, physically, fast and with a good engine. In these two players we found all the characteristics for this league. Then they’re very young. Bentancur is only 24 years old but has already played 200 games. Deki is in the starting XI of the national team. Don’t forget they’re arriving from a club where the pressure is already very high. For this reason they were ready to manage this situation.
Were you surprised Eric Dier was not in England squad or were you secretly happy?
Honestly I hope for the players to receive this call up. He’s working very hard and in this moment he’s one of the best defenders in the league. He has also big space to improve his performance and his quality and to become a stronger and stronger player. In the past, I had the chance to coach the national team and I understand that sometimes you have a plan. At the moment, Southgate is preparing and he has a plan to prepare a squad for the World Cup in December.
He knows Eric very well and he has not to discover Eric because he was previously in the national team. I’m sure if Eric continues to play this way, he has a great possibility to go to the World Cup because, I repeat, he’s one of the best defenders in this league.
Is West Ham playing extra-time on Thursday good news or bad?
I can answer you after the game and tell you how the Sevilla game affects the game against us. For sure, on one hand they played 120 minutes but when you get this type of result it gives you confidence, enthusiasm and strength. For sure, it’ll be a really tough game for both teams. We’re in the same position and we have the same target.
It’s a derby and don’t forget that a derby is always difficult, but I think that my team, we are now in a good moment of form. We are improving a lot. We try to do everything to get three points.
It would be very important to have a fantastic atmosphere around us in the stadium. Our fans, they have to play an important part in the game. Like all the other games they can help us by pushing us from the start until the end, to create a fantastic atmosphere around us. It’ll be very important for us.
What have you made of the job David Moyes has done?
He’s doing a fantastic job. I’ve known him for a long time. I remember also he worked very well, also he had the opportunity to be Manchester United manager and he was unlucky with this experience.
But we are talking about a manager with great experience. He knows this league very well and he’s doing a fantastic job. It’ll be great to see him tomorrow and to play the game but win.
Son Heung-min and Harry Kane with Antonio Conte after the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur
What did you learn from your last match against West Ham in the Carabao Cup?
I remember that game very well, because the game was very difficult. We scored, we were winning 1-0, they scored and drew and then we scored again. We’re talking about a team that’s very strong physically.
It’s difficult to play West Ham because it’s difficult to find their players out of position and also when they attack, they’re very prepared, they’re good defensively. You have to pay great attention because also they’re very strong on set pieces. They’re in a good position in the table. It was the same last season. It means this has great value. The players and the manager are doing a fantastic job.
What do you make of the fixture list and Mikel Arteta’s fixture concerns and the fairness?
(Interrupts question) Yeah but I only want Arteta to remember the game postponed. Tottenham – Arsenal okay? If we speak about unfair. I stop.
But in general?
But In general, I think my answer is enough. Okay, yeah, it’s enough. If someone wants to speak about fair or unfair. We postponed the game, Tottenham-Arsenal, if you remember. I don’t. I don’t forget this, and I think that it’s not right to speak about fair or unfair.
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You said that you have to help Cristian Romero in a good way or bad way, what did you mean by that exactly?
Cristian is a player who has to be focused in every moment of the game. If he’s good, he’s good to be focused from the start, from the first second to the last second of the game. He is a really important player for us. I think he has a bit to improve in this situation, to be focused in every moment of the game.
Sometimes he takes a yellow card that he can avoid. I think that he has to improve in his aspect, to be focused from the start until the end. Sometimes you can’t explain this to him in a good manner. Sometimes you have to shout! (Laughs) But he’s a good guy and he understands very well that what I do is always best for the team and for the best for the player to improve himself, because I think he has great quality to become a top defender so when I think this it’s important to find the right way to improve the player.
Could you have Oliver Skipp back for the Newcastle match?
It’s difficult to answer now. We’ll have two weeks to see this improvement and make him ready for the game against Newcastle. I know the player’s frustration because we’re talking also about a really good guy. He’s a top guy, a top man. To see him very disappointed and very sad for this situation, but he has to be strong because we believe in him and we are waiting for him.
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