Roberto De Zerbi held a press conference early on Sunday morning ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League game against Coventry City with some mixed news.
Spurs now return from a warm-weather training camp in Marbella organized by De Zerbi to help bond them following the arrival of 10 new players during the summer transfer window. They must now return to Premier League action as they sit at the bottom of the early table without a win to their name.
Tottenham welcome Frank Lampard’s in-form Coventry side on Monday night and De Zerbi provided updates on the fitness of Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski, as well as several new injuries, and was also asked about Brazilian vocalist Richarlison on social media.
Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those who asked De Zerbi before the game against Coventry. Here is the full transcript of the press conference at Hotspur Way.
Who can’t play tomorrow?
Savio. Unfortunately, Savio felt a muscle problem on Tuesday, yes Tuesday, the first day at our training ground before leaving for Marbella. Unfortunately, we lost him for a few weeks, but (it) is what it is. And Lucas Bergvall because he had a problem early in the game in Manchester. The first chance we created with Solanke, when he (Bergvall) returned the ball, he felt pain in his knee and finished the game, but the day after Manchester, on Sunday, he came to the training ground for our medical staff. And I think two weeks [out].
So, Kulusevski could be on the bench tomorrow?
Yes, Kulusevski is on the bench. We had a meeting with the medical staff. They gave the OK and that’s great news. I think this is one of the best news after the Everton game last season because Deki suffered a lot. He deserves to feel the emotion on the pitch.
Make sure you never miss the latest Tottenham news and opinion by making Football London one of Google’s preferred sources.
How was Marbella, have you had success with these types of trips before?
Yes, we were doing well. Very good, but anyway we were working well on our training ground at home. I think when you have to improve, and I think we have to improve in the end, not in the quality of the performances, but you have to find all the ways to improve. All ways to be better, all ways to be a stronger band. Players spend time together. They stay together a lot. I think to create nothing more than the normal first XI? Now I think and believe that in football you need to build a group, you need relationships, you need connections and you need to know your teammates very well.
Richarlison played for the under-21s in midweek. He is still quite vocal on social media. Still have a new solution plan for him in January?
I don’t know, it’s not my problem anymore. Vinai (Venkatesham), you have to ask Johan (Lange), it’s not my problem. As a coach, I know I have to accept, support, pressure, take responsibility, even if it’s not my responsibility. I have not decided anything in this situation. If he wants to talk about me, he can, and he knows where to find me. I stay in my office from 8:30 am to night. I don’t have a problem with anyone but I don’t want to talk anymore because I’m focused on the Coventry game and I’m just focused on improving my team.
Next up is Frank Lampard’s Coventry, how do you rate them and what challenges do you think they face?
Coventry is a good team. They had a fantastic championship last season. They deserve to win the league and play in the Premier League this season. They played with energy but also with quality because they have players like Cherif, who I know very well, and other players as well.
But we are “Tottenham”, we keep modesty, we keep what you want. But we want to show that we are good enough to win games, especially if we deserve to win games.
What can you learn more about your players when you take a squad away from their normal environment on the way to Marbella? Or is it more about your players learning about each other?
No, no. More players, about each other. I am the coach, I take responsibility, but it is everyone’s responsibility. From the manager to the players. To be a team, they need to feel themselves. I think we showed character in Manchester, especially after the red card in the most difficult moments. So we have to show character from the start. At home, with our fans. Because if we want, we can change the date of this season and last season as well.
When it comes to the team being clinical, how much of that can help the player or is it more their instinct?
I think if we don’t score or if we only score one goal and create eight or nine chances, my job is to improve the team so that we create 20 scoring chances. If they are not enough, 25-30. I think we have no other way. I have great faith in the players.
I think if we play like this, if we attack like this, if we defend like this, if we create so many chances to score, we will score a lot of goals and win a lot of games. But that’s my opinion.
With Savio, do you think it will be many weeks?
(Sad and stops) I don’t know, but it’s been a few weeks.
How close is Pedro Porro?
Pedro, I think he will come. Maybe he can play in “Chelsea”.
With Dejan Kulusevski, what was the moment like when you were able to tell him after all this time that you were going to be in my matchday squad?
I spoke to him after practice yesterday and told him I spoke to the medical staff and they gave me a good response and he smiled like this (big smile). And we are happy. We are very, very happy. This is not football. I’m not talking about football. OK, he’s a special player, but we’re talking about different things. He suffered a lot and his reaction was great.
Did you do any special group activities on your trip to Marbella? When Mauricio Pochettino walked the hot coals with the team a year ago, was there anything in particular you did?
No, I left them dinner and nothing was arranged from me.