“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 proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation. 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 (Venkatesham). It’s not my business after the decision to leave (if that happens).”
“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. 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.”
“Kudus is very close, I think. When we come back to London, he will be available to start to work with us. It is a great thing for us. Because Kudus is another important player. And Kulusevski, we have to see in the next couple of weeks. He is another important player. But after one season, one complete season, without games, we have to analyse better and better and don’t take risks for sure. First of all, for him, and then for us.”
“First of all I think it’s not finished yet our transfer market window. We have to finish, we have to bring another couple, 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 [Venkatesham]. We are working with a clear idea. We brought players with a great experience like [Andrew Robertson].
“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.”