Was that a good run-out for the players with a lot of young players doing their bit to impress you?
Yeah it was a good run-out. It’s always good when you play these games and there’s a good crowd and a good atmosphere because it feels like a real game sometimes. A friendly game you worry that the competitiveness and intensity isn’t there but I thought it was today. Both halves were good. We played some decent football. The boys worked hard, no injuries. We’re only nine days into pre-season so overall I thought it was a good hit out for us.
You’ve brought in Archie Gray and got Timo Werner back and Lucas Bergvall has arrived, are you still comfortable with the transfer plan as you were in May or did you want one or two more in by now?
Like I said, nothing’s really changed, I’m comfortable. We’ve got a strategy in place about what we want to do. I’m really happy with the two lads we’ve brought in, both obviously very talented but more importantly really ambitious. They’re not here to ease their way in. They want to play and I think that’s great. They’ve brought a good energy to the group and no doubt there will be a couple more additions but I’m comfortable with where we’re at.
Rodrigo Bentancur has had a couple of awkward, difficult moments in recent months with the Son comment and the post-match scenes at the Copa America, have you had a chance to speak to him or will you be speaking to him about it all on his return?
No, I don’t know what you’re referring to with the Copa America, but in terms of the comments it’s been dealt with. The most important person in that whole process is Sonny so he’ll guide us and he’ll direct us. It’s being dealt with and I’m sure there will be further actions behind it but at the moment I think with all of these kind of things it’s easier to jump in and make judgements but I always think the most important people are the ones affected and in this case it’s Sonny and we’ll be guided by him.
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What did you make of Will Lankshear’s performance?
He was good. We kind of brought him in in this last week and yeah he has looked bright in training. He works hard and I thought he took his goal well tonight. He had a very good year last year so it’s about rewarding that. With all the young guys it’s about the game doesn’t stand still. Whatever you did last year it’s about coming in this year and making an impact. Our two new signings are both 18 years old so there’s a measure there for our 18 year olds. Just because you are here doesn’t mean you get any kind of advantage apart from the fact you are in front of us every day. He deserved his chance today, trained well, took his goal well and I’m pleased for him.
Djed Spence – what did you make of his performance and is he a part of your long-term plans?
Djed did well. He has had a tough couple of years. He is training with us and I think with all of the players they are here with us at the moment and when they are here with us I treat them as Tottenham players unless something suddenly changes. He was good tonight. Took his goal well, he contributed well and got an assist.
What is your reaction to the video of Argentina’s players chanting about the French national team, have you seen it?
Only briefly mate but again like I said with these things, it’s the people who have been affected who are the best judges of where it sits. I don’t get that stuff. I don’t understand in this day and age why you would even put that kind of stuff out for public consumption. I’m not talking about that (the chant), I’m talking about the celebrations. That used to be done behind closed doors, enjoy those moments for yourself. In terms of that specific thing, I haven’t looked too closely but I would be guided by the people most affected and they should guide our actions.
There are reports linking you with the England job, can we get a response to that?
Mate I was having a nap this afternoon so I’ve got no idea. I’m Tottenham manager and I’m determined to bring success to this club, as I have at every other club I’ve been at. That’s where my focus is totally.
You still have a lot of work to do at Tottenham?
We haven’t achieved anything yet. So until we achieving something my work is not done.
Do the links to England show you are going in the right direction?
I reckon by the end of it there will be 100 of them. I’m in the top 100, thank you. That’s decent.
Can you understand Gareth Southgate’s decision?
Yeah, look in my whole career I have always felt there was a natural conclusion. Sometimes as a manager it gets taken out of your hands so you have no choice if you move on or not but I have kind of always moved and felt it was the right time. He is the best judge of that. He has done an unbelievable job, ridiculously good in terms of results and performances in major tournaments. The expectation is now really high for England and he has created that. He is in the best place to say whether it was time for him and like I said as managers a lot of the time our future is taken out of our hands so it’s nice when we make the decision sometimes.
Would the England job one day interest you?
Five years ago I was in Japan and now I’m in the Premier League. Who knows where I will be in five years. I could be back in Japan. I could be on the beach somewhere, hopefully. It’s not something that enters my headspace. I’m Tottenham manager and I’m determined to bring success to this club. Nothing else is on my radar except for that.
How have you found the transition to the Premier League from Scotland?
Yeah I think the press here prepared me well for it mate. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a massive club and the Premier League is an unbelievable league. It’s a challenge every week. The best players and the best managers are here and you’re testing yourself every week but it’s what I want to do, it’s where I want to be and I’m enjoying it, but very focused on bringing success.
Are you aware of the support that there’s been from Scotland for you?
Yeah, I loved my time here. Such an unbelievable club Celtic. The support I had from day one was unbelievable, but I enjoyed my whole time up here. I did, my family did, it was a great two years and I’ll always look back with great fondness. Obviously we had great success which helps but aside from that, just the life we lived and the people we met, it will always be a special time in our lives.
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