Mauricio Pochettino set to use extra time off to fine tune Tottenham for the New Year
Spurs’ full squad will enjoy a full seven days between games twice over the next month
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mauricio Pochettino will use the extra time Tottenham Hotspur now have between games over the next few weeks to “introduce different concepts” to his team, and fine-tune some details.
The switching of the club’s home fixture with West Ham United from New Years Eve to 2 January, as well as the fact there are League Cup games after Saturday’s away match with Manchester City, mean Spurs’ full squad will enjoy a full seven days between games twice over the next month.
That is the first time that will be the case since August, and the manager plans to use it to work on plans, especially with players signed late in the summer window.
“The first six months is always difficult for the new players because we don't have much time to work,” Pochettino said. It's so difficult - sometimes we work only through the video because we can't do anything on the pitch. And it's not the same. Just today we were talking about the next week - it will be key for us to work with the new players, introduce different concepts that we need to improve on the team.
"And of course I hope that the second half of the season, with all the squad fit and all together, we will be more competitive. We are going to have Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League and we need to be competitive and strong.”
Pochettino admitted the switching of the West Ham match was a bonus in that sense.
“Yes, in the end, you need to play. But yes, it's good for us to have these two periods to work in, of course.”
Pochettino said he also feels there is more “competitiveness” in the squad, with the pending return of key players like Erik Lamela and Victor Wanyama.
“It's true that for different reasons, like injuries or other things, we've missed this feeling [of competition]. Of course, in the second part of the season, if we can recover every -- now Lamela is nearly 100% or Victor Wanyama, Toby {Alderweireld] later -- it's very good news for the team.
"To have everyone at a very good level. For the new players that arrived to be more comfortable here, to know everything, to adapt their quality to the team.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments