Roberto De Zerbi delivered plenty of updates at his press conference ahead of Tottenham's trip to Manchester United as the Premier League finally returns.
In a three-week international break, Spurs have sat at the foot of the Premier League table but De Zerbi's men have a chance to alter that as they make their way to Old Trafford for Saturday evening's match against Michael Carrick's side. The Italian provided the latest injury updates on Jan Paul van Hecke and captain Micky van de Ven, who picked up toe and hand injuries respectively while on international duty with the Netherlands.
The Italian also delivered positive news on Dejan Kulusevski, who remains in training and aiming to return to action more than 500 days after his serious knee injury.
Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to De Zerbi. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at Hotspur Way.
Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke suffered injuries with the Netherlands. Are they out and who else is also unavailable for tomorrow?
No, they are available to play. Micky played four games, 90 minutes, around 90 minutes. JP played just three games, the difference is this. JP, yesterday, wife gave birth to twins, emotional aspect. We have to consider also this one, but both are available to play.
How difficult was it to finish the international break with a defeat? Or has it been good for you to maybe reset, recharge?
No, it's difficult. It was very, very tough. Very, very tough, especially the first week. Yeah, but football is part of our real situation in this moment and we have to react, to work, to go through this moment.
Are you excited to be back though?
Yes, I've been waiting for this game for three weeks, because after the defeat at home against Aston Villa, personally I wanted to play the day after.
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Did the fact that you scored two goals against Aston Villa maybe give you enough reassurance that you may have fixed the issues of scoring goals that you had in the previous games?
No, no. I think we created chance enough to score many other goals in these seven games. I think even this improvement, I think we had the qualities to score more goals. Anyway, the most important thing is to bring the ball in the goal area. In the goal area we went many, many times.
We are fourth in the table, of the teams who bring the ball many times (into the final third). So it's nothing, but I think we arrived there, but we are not good enough so far to score goals when we have a clear chance.
You talked a lot about the number 10 position, is tomorrow the day we could see James Madison start?
He is available but he lost three/four days in the beginning of this week and the end of the last week. Like I said many times, James is a special player for us, as a player for sure but also as a personality. Also Gallagher, I think he is playing well, especially in the last two games, Liverpool and Villa.
Tomorrow for you as Tottenham manager going into this game, does it feel like a very big game for the club?
Yes, because we are Tottenham and United-Tottenham are still big clubs in the Premier League. We have to deserve to work in this club, playing better and making different results.
Can I ask you about Porro and Mudryk, how they are doing and also what was the issue with James Maddison?
Maddison the same problem and Porro, Pedro and Mudryk both are not available. Pedro I think not for much time, many games and for Mudryk maybe something more.
Dejan Kulusevski still seems to be training, is everything going well with him?
He is working well, tomorrow he comes with us, also Porro [for support]. I want all players tomorrow, tonight and tomorrow, but he is working very well. I think he is an example for everyone, Dejan Kulusevski. Forget the player, but the example of how he reacted to the injury, the reaction to being unlucky, the character he showed this time, was an example, a reference for everyone.
I know you are not putting any pressure on him, understandably, but how close do you think he is to getting in a matchday squad?
I don't know, it's not just my responsibility, we are working together with the medical staff. They are working very well with him, they have done special work. We have to analyse week by week.
How frustrating are these little problems for Maddison?
I am frustrated or him?
For both of you?
Both, because he is a good guy, he suffered to stay not on the pitch, to have the injury. Now it was not a big injury. Tomorrow he can play, but the Premier League is tough.
Physically it is a very strong competition and you have to be in the right physical condition to compete, to run, to fight. He is a number 10, a different player, but I think he is working well and this is the way. The way is to complete three, four, five weeks in a row without problems, without feeling pain, without feeling problems. And then he is a normal player, he has nothing special, bad.
You had a lot of players still here during the international break and attacking players like Solanke, Savio, Kudus, how important has this been for them?
They work very well and also Tosin Adarabioyo, also Marcos Senesi, Kudus, Savio, Dom Solanke, Conor Gallagher and Udogie as well. Yeah, I consider this part of work with me but I can’t forget the players [with the] national team. We are just one Tottenham and nothing change if one player went to national team or another worked with me. We have to consider the many games in a row for Robertson, van de Ven, Bentancur and the trip of Bentancur. The decision is the first XI is just for that.
Man United and Tottenham both wanted Fernandes - he picked Tottenham. He’s not played in central midfield yet but how important was it to sign him and when will he be ready to play in the centre of midfield?
Fernandes is a great player. Maybe one of the best players in our team. He needs time to understand the club, he needs time to come inside well and better in the environment of Tottenham, but I have big confidence. He has to react. Life in football is tough, it’s difficult and the most important thing is the reaction to go through the problem. He doesn’t start the bad or worse than others but even well, he has to be stronger and he has all my confidence. He has all the confidence of the club but he needs time and we have to give him time.
In 2006-07 in Serie B, you got promoted with Napoli, what was like to play Juve, who finished above you?
What do you mean? Manchester City? You want to arrive to Manchester City?
How did you feel as a player through that time?
Listen, I was crazy as a player. I don’t remember my thoughts. I just to think on the ball, just to think on our job and when you are a player, you don’t think too much and when you are a coach, the same because the focus is on your player and especially now because we are at the bottom of the table. I have no time to think to the other problems than my team and my club.
How did it affect Italian football?
Nothing. I think there are the people who they have to decide who takes the decision with responsibility, with courage and honesty always. It is not my job. My job is to be a coach, but I love respecting the rules like all people in our club.