Roberto de Zerbi delivered key updates on the Tottenham team for their visit to Stamford Bridge.
A point will effectively secure topflight status for Spurs against Chelsea on Tuesday evening, and the new head coach believes his players can turn the positive form from the last month into one big result.
‘They have to believe more in themselves’
He particularly pointed to a young forward who has stepped up to the plate in recent weeks and was heavily involved in both the goals in a 1-1 draw between Spurs and Leeds United last Monday.
There will be also a reunion for a bullish midfielder with his boyhood club while de Zerbi must prep his players to face a man in the middle of the park who was a big part of the plans at Brighton.
“They deserve to stay up, and they deserve to play in the Premier League. They are good players and maybe they have to believe more in themselves and to stop the negative thoughts.
“[Mathys Tel] is a mature guy. Maybe more outside of the pitch than on the pitch because he is not playing so many games in his career, but he has big potential. He is a lovely guy, he is a positive guy and he has strong character. In the future he can play better, and he can become a great player for us.
“Guglielmo Vicario is available to play, and I will decide tomorrow (if he plays). Dominic Solanke is not good yet. He is not available. He feels something and I don’t want to take a risk for this game. We hope for Sunday, maybe for Sunday he can be available for one part of the game.
“Vicario is number one, but we have to consider the physical condition, the moment, everything, but I have a big relationship with Antonin Kinsky and Vicario as well and there will not be any problem.
“Cristian Romero is a big player, you know he is a big player, but he is an amazing guy because he has been a great captain in my time even though he didn’t play. We are talking by phone, when he stays here, every morning he came in my office, and he was inside of the season.
“From Conor Gallagher, I expect the same performance. He’s a great player, a great personality. He doesn’t speak too much, but he speaks on the pitch with his work, with his personality, and we are lucky to have a player like this.
“Moises Caicedo is one of the best midfielders in the world because he’s a complete player, with the ball, without the ball, but also our midfielders are very good – Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Gallagher, Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr – and I'm happy.