Here's what he had to say...
What are your thoughts on being here in New Zealand?
Roberto: “We are at the beginning of the pre-season, the most important thing is to play a serious game, for sure, and don't take risks for the injuries, because it was a very long trip. We are at the beginning of the season, we have a lot of players who suffered injuries last season. We have to be serious on the pitch, we have to improve everything we did, but we can't forget that the season will start in 20-25 days, and we are here with our physical condition, our knowledge, our connection with the players. We are happy to be here, because it's an amazing country, amazing experience for us, but we can't forget that we are here not in holiday, but we are here to be better when the Premier League starts.”
What did you make of the welcome?
Roberto: “It's important for us, because we know the culture of New Zealand. It's a great experience. We are looking forward to play tomorrow, to play against the winner of the A League, in front of a lot of people, because I think there will be 40,000 spectators, and we are ready.”
What's the longest you've travelled before to play a match?
Roberto: “It was the longest trip, for sure, but listen, football in this part of the history is like this, no? Because a lot of very important clubs, they go to the pre-season in this type of tournament. We accept to do that, but we can't lose our focus. Our focus is the beginning of the Premier League, to improve the physical condition of the players. The new players, they come inside of our methodology, of our style of play. We have no excuse, but it was a very long trip and we have to manage it.”
You’re playing a club currently without a manager – how do you approach a game like this if you don't know the characteristics of who's leading the team?
Roberto: “Sometimes, you know in football, sometimes it's better if you have not a coach! I don't know, you have to ask the players if he's there or not, but I know they won the last season of the league. For sure, they want to show they are good players. It will be a good game, because we play with the best team we can put together, a lot of young players, for sure, because we have many players who finished the World Cup. We don't take risks about the injuries, but for us it's a serious game, for sure.”
How much is this game almost a trial for some of the younger players?
Roberto: “It's important, you know, because football is, for me, it's important the name, it's important the career, but it's important what I can watch on the game, during the game. We are all at the same place, at the same point, especially for the young players, I want them to play like a normal game. We are here because we want to play well, we want to play seriously. No excuse, not a friendly game, a normal game."
The club has been very decisive in the transfer window - how important has that been to get these players around you quickly in pre-season? Also, what else do you want to have?
Roberto: “First of all, I think it's not finished yet, our transfer market window. We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players. I'm very happy, I'm excited to work with the new players, with the old players. I think we are working very well with Johan Lange and Vinai. We are working with a clear idea. We bought players with great experience, like Robbo. I think we need this type of players because we need to increase experience. We have to improve in mentality, we have to be stronger, because in the last two seasons we didn't do what Tottenham has to do. At the end of the transfer market we will make the point to close the transfer market session. But at the moment, I'm very excited.”
You put a lot into the defence and two big midfielders as well. Is it fair to say the attack is where you want more?
Roberto: “Yes, the target now is to complete the attacking positions. We want the first target, the first level, because anyway we are already important players, but I think to start the new project we need another couple of important players, for sure.”
Lucas Bergvall has been linked with a move away – does his inclusion in the travelling squad tell us something about where his future lies?
Roberto: “Listen, I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham. I said, who doesn't want to stay in Tottenham? Who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave. I want the players to be proud and happy to stay here, to go on the pitch in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with big motivation. Because now in football, if you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference. The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team. I have not spoken with Lucas yet. I will in the next days and we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us, without problems, Lucas is a big, big talent. There will be a big competition to play because at the end, I think we will be two players for each position. If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with Johan Lange, with Vinai. It's not my business after the decision to leave.”
Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr didn’t come on the trip – it was said they were given an extended break after the World Cup. Is there any kind of insight as to why that was?
Roberto: “No, nothing. Bentancur is a crucial player for us, Pape Sarr the same. I spoke after the World Cup with both players and for every one of them, we take different ways. Bentancur asked me one week more, because he suffered a very tough season. Pape Sarr has a personal problem and he asked me one week more. No problem, nothing more than I said.”
Young players and fringe players have made an impression already - Luca Williams-Barnett got a lot of attraction after his performance the other day. Are you excited with the players that you're seeing?
Roberto: “Yes, I'm used to working with young players. In my career, I gave big time and big space for the young players, but they have to show me they are able to play and they are good players. I never started from the age of the players. For the qualities, yes. For the attitude, yes. For the behaviour, yes, but not ages.
You left Kudus and Kulusevski back at Hotspur Way…
Roberto: “And Vicario. Vicario is injured, not a big injury, but he needs to stay one week in London.”
How close are Kudus and Kulusevski to coming back?
Roberto: “Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us. It's a great thing for us. Kudus is another important player. Kulusevski, we have to see in the next couple of weeks. He's another important player. After one season, one complete season, without a game, we have to analyse better and better, don't take risks, first of all for him and then for us.”