Roberto De Zerbi looks to capitalize on the positive momentum in training after Tottenham Hotspur’s dramatic last-gasp defeat at Manchester United.
Spurs have been training hard at Hotspur Way this week ahead of their warm-weather camp in Marbella to encourage more closure in a squad with 10 new additions in the summer and four of them towards the end of the window after pre-season ends.
As the squad work in the sunny climes of Spain, the club released footage of the session under gray skies at Anfield before heading abroad for a link-up trip that will see them in good time ahead of Monday night’s match against Coventry.
“We have to build a team,” De Zerbi said. “We are a great group of players, but we are not yet a team. Being a team means playing for teammates, suffering together, attacking together, defending together.”
Regarding the purpose of his visit to Spain, he added: “To work together, stay together, go to dinner together, get to know each other better.”
Here are five things we saw from the work being done both inside Hotspur Way and on the training pitches before the team set off for Marbella.
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A man with a plan
Director of Performance Dan Levindon can be seen watching in the background as Tottenham’s players work in the gym before training, going through warm-ups, drills and stretches.
Levindon has senior experience, having spent nearly four years as the LTA’s head of performance, science and medicine, followed by six years as director of player health and performance at City Football Group and seven years as head team physiotherapist at the RFU.
So, with a background in football, tennis and rugby, Levindon was tasked with overhauling the way Spurs work across various departments in performance and medicine when he arrived earlier this year.
One of the many changes made has been the overhaul of the first team gym, a more suitable modern hall with everything the players need to press on. The new-look venue opened earlier this season and Lewindon can be seen as the players continue their moves there this week.
Levindo’s other changes are expected to pay off in the long run, but extra caution is evident with some players and – Pedro Porro aside – the number of muscle injuries in particular is currently low.
Sharp Kulusevsky
One of those areas of caution has undoubtedly been around Dejan Kulusevski, despite the Swede’s excitement to return to action after more than 500 days out with a complex patella injury in his right knee.
The 26-year-old looked sharp in training footage, playing a key role in the rondo as the man in the middle received all the passes and moved the ball forward as others tried to get in his way. He could also be seen slotting home Andy Robertson’s low cross during a practice game.
Kulusevski made the trip to Manchester with the squad and the Swede was near the bench while the likes of Porro, Robertson and Xavi Simons sat in the stands, which could suggest he has been given an opportunity to get back into the groove of being in this scenario before returning.
De Zerbi said before the draw at Old Trafford football.london: “He’s working well, he’s coming with us tomorrow, Porro too. I want all the players tomorrow, tonight and tomorrow, but he’s working very well. I think he’s an example for everyone, Deyan Kulusevski. Forget the player, but how he reacted to the injury, his reaction to his misfortune, the example of character he showed this time, an example, a reference for everyone.”
The two players who did not appear in the footage were Kulusevski’s compatriots Lukas Bergvall and Mateus Fernandes. I hope the young midfielders were just resting after their impact against United rather than having any problems.
Marbella Youth
football.london De Zerbi understands he is taking a group of young Spurs stars to Marbella with the first team, including Luca Williams-Barnett, Tye Hall, Callum Olusesi, Rio Kyerematen, Tyrese Hall, Reiss-Elliott Parris and 18-year-old goalkeeper Dylan Thompson.
Pre-training footage at Hotspur Way shows them all taking part in first-team meetings with Williams-Barnett netting from Rodrigo Bentancur’s cross.
The experience in Spain will be another important step for the academy product as calls continue from Tottenham fans to see 18-year-old Williams-Barnett make his Premier League debut as the club look to sign him to a new contract.
“I think. I think because he is another special player. But he is very young and very, very young players are very complicated to manage,” De Zerbi said.
“Because sometimes you want to be good for your players, but you don’t do good for the player. But it seems to me that he has arrived. [at] The moment he will play because Luca is special.
“A special talent. A special personality too because he is arrogant but arrogant, good for football because you have to believe in yourself. Don’t forget to be humble. Humility but believe in yourself and the right example is Luke.”
Super year
Marcos Senesi impressed against United at the weekend and in particular his passing between the lines caused all sorts of problems for Michael Carrick’s side.
However, the 29-year-old Argentine showed in training footage just how good he can be on the end of such a pass. The former Bournemouth centre-back, who played at the World Cup this summer, ran perfectly onto Bentancourt’s lofted pass during a warm-up match and curled a cushioned volley under the crossbar and into the net.
He drew cheers and cheers from the staff and some of the players as he ran back into position with a hint of a smile on his face.
Champions
Mini-games always have a winning side as we often see them lined up for photo ops and that was certainly the case during this session.
Posing for group shots later in the day, the celebrating team included Ben Davies, Tosin Adarabioyo, James Maddison, Tyrese Hall, Rio Kyerematen, Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus.
De Zerbi will be hoping all his players have a similar feeling of victory after Monday night’s game against in-form side Coventry with Spurs still looking for their first win of the Premier League season.