Here are five things we spotted as Tottenham Hotspur trained at Eden Park in New Zealand ahead of their pre-season match against Auckland
Tottenham's players took to the pitch at Eden Park on Saturday to train ahead of their pre-season friendly match in New Zealand against Auckland FC.
Spurs are set to take on the A-League winners in front of 40,000 fans on Sunday (4am kick-off UK time) for their second friendly of the summer after winning 1-0 against League One side MK Dons at Hotspur Way on Wednesday. The north London side embarked the following morning on a long-haul flight for New Zealand and arrived just under 30 hours later after a couple of stops.
After getting into their hotel in the early hours of Saturday morning - that's in Auckland time which is 11 hours ahead of the UK - Roberto De Zerbi and his squad were given a traditional Maori welcoming ceremony at midday - involving some close contact - before taking on open training in front of the Spurs supporters that evening.
Here are five things football.london spotted in Auckland as our reporter Alasdair Gold watched the hour-long session from the stands in New Zealand:
Team hint
De Zerbi had hinted that he would be cautious with his team line-up so soon after his players had undertaken such a long journey across to the other side of the world.
"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 too many injuries last season, and we have to be serious on the pitch," he said.
That would explain why the Italian brought a big squad of 35 players on tour, including plenty of academy players, when normally the club only take 25 players on their pre-season trips abroad which often are slightly later in the pre-season schedule. It could all be part of Spurs' attempts to cut down injuries for the coming campaign by planning their pre-season more logically with better adaption to the travelling.
Watching training, it was noticeable that the majority of the senior players were mainly doing the warm-up work and then jogging around the pitch.
That left the remaining players to take part in a training match of sorts, which was constantly interrupted by De Zerbi and his coaches as they looked to imprint what they wanted on the teams.
One of the young sides was wearing orange bibs with numbers one to 11 on them and there's a decent chance that could be the team the head coach selects on Sunday to face Auckland.
It contained Brandon Austin in goal, behind a back four of Tye Hall, Malachi Hardy, Kota Takai and Rio Kyerematen. Then Jamie Donley and Archie Gray formed a midfield duo behind a trio of Manor Solomon, Luca Williams-Barnett and Mikey Moore with Dane Scarlett leading the line up top.
Players missing
We know that Mohamed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert all remained at Hotspur Way to continue their rehabilitation, while De Zerbi said that Guglielmo Vicario sustained a minor knock in training and needed a week at the training complex.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr were granted extended leave following their appearances at the World Cup.
"Bentancur is a crucial player for us, and Pape Sarr, the same. I spoke after the World Cup with players and for every one of them we take different ways," said the Spurs boss. "Bentancur asked me for one week more because he suffered a very tough season last season, and Pape Sarr has a personal problem, and he asked me for one week more. But nothing, no problem, nothing more than I said."
Pedro Porro, Marcos Senesi, Cristian Romero and Djed Spence are on their holidays after reaching the latter stages of the tournament, with Porro winning it all with Spain.
One player who has not been mentioned by the club is Brazilian left-back Souza and the 20-year-old has also been absent from the tour.
football.london reported last week that the defender had been ill and missed the opening days of pre-season and it is believed that he has remained at Hotspur Way to catch up with his fitness work as he was left lagging behind the group by his absence.
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All eyes on Williams-Barnett
The Kiwi Spurs fans might be on the other side of the world but that doesn't mean they don't know who Luca Williams-Barnett is.
The 17-year-old dazzled in the midweek friendly against MK Dons with his flicks, tricks, dribbling and passing ability in the second half and the teenager looks determined to catch De Zerbi's eye this summer and the fans loved every minute of it.
The long flight did not look to have fazed Williams-Barnett in the swirling rain in Auckland as he continued to show off his superb natural technique with an array of passes through to the forward players, as well as having a couple of attempts at goal himself. After the session he made his way over to the shouting supporters to sign autographs and pose for photos.
Pre-season always brings the chance for at least one youngster to impress and De Zerbi was asked about Williams-Barnett among others on Saturday.
"I'm used to working with young players. I gave in my career big time and space for young players, but they have to show me they are able to play and they are good players," said the head coach. "I never start from the age of the players. From the qualities? Yes. From the attitude and behaviours? Yes. But not for the age."
Maddison's lone work
James Maddison spent much of the session on Saturday doing his own thing, with slow jogs around the Eden Park pitch with a member of the sports science staff.
The 29-year-old has had a tough year after suffering his anterior cruciate ligament injury in South Korea in Son Heung-min's farewell game against Newcastle on tour 12 months ago. The midfielder battled back to play in the final three games of the season as a substitute, while also playing his part off the pitch by motivating his team-mates in their relegation scrap.
However, his non-participation in the win against MK Dons and his separate work on Saturday in Auckland suggests the England international might be carrying a little issue that means he will be ready to take part later in the tour.
Richarlison prank
To those watching inside Eden Park it did seem strange that the crowd were prepared to roar for the team to come out at the start of the session only for Richarlison to rush on to the grass as the only player.
It was only afterwards that what happened became clear when Spurs released footage from inside the tunnel as it turned out the team pranked the Brazilian.
"Let's go boys!" he shouted as he attempted to lead the players out, punching the air as he emerged into the arena. However, his team-mates had all decided to hang the striker out to dry by stopping and standing still to let him rush out alone.
They later followed while laughing and Richarlison saw the funny side with his trademark grin.