Thomas Frank spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon ahead of our UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG at Stadio Friuli on Wednesday evening (8pm UK).
Here's what he had to say...
How excited is the club to have a chance of another trophy?
"I think for the club, for the team, for me, for everybody involved at Tottenham Hotspur, it's a massive game. A great challenge and an even bigger opportunity. That's how my brain works, I see opportunities instead of pressure or whatever. So for me, massive opportunity and we will definitely embrace it and we will do everything."
Ben Davies said you've worked a lot on the structure, can you expand a bit on that?
"That's not only for this game but over the course of pre-season. I'm a big believer of principles and structure in the team, offensively and defensively, so for me there needs to be clear structure in phase one and phase two when we're building up and want to control the game, also in phase three when you want to score. Also, there's the other way round in high pressure, middle pressure and defending the box, so that we work on and hopefully it's perfect tomorrow. We're playing an okay team that did reasonable well last year, but that we are ready for."
Injury-wise, are there any fresh injuries, we've seen Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Radu Dragusin have travelled, can any of them play a part?
"The players that have that little bit longer, the longer terms are here for backing the team and being part of the group. Dom is the positive one, he's available for selection tomorrow, so that's very good. Destiny is closer and getting closer to training with the group. So, those are two big ones, and then Bissouma has not travelled with the team because of disciplinary reasons."
Is Cristian Romero going to be an important and experienced player for the team?
"Cristian Romeo is going to be a very, very big, an important player for us tomorrow. He's a player that has been in big finals and won them. So he definitely knows how we do that and that'll be a big help. I think it's very important that these players, of course just like the PSG players, but just, you know, my players, our players, they just won a big trophy six or seven weeks ago, so they had a fantastic experience of doing that and they want to win more. It was a great feeling, everything I heard about it, everything I've seen, fantastic experience. So the players will be ready, but of course, Romero will be crucial."
Do you have a special plan to stop Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?
"I could say a few things but I’m probably not allowed to just kick him down. He is a special player, a unique talent. The way he drives with the ball and his one vs one skills are exceptional. I followed him for quite a while, both in Naples and with the national team, now PSG. But with all due respect, he is just a human, a very good player but we have good defenders and a good plan. I’m comfortable we can keep him quiet enough. It is impossible to keep him totally quiet."
Is there an advantage having a longer break than PSG?
"Of course we have had a more normal pre-season which is what I think every coach would prefer. A long pre-season to lead into an important game on the first day of the season. In that way it can be an advantage. The flipside, and I'm always quite pragmatic because there are pros and cons to everything, they have had a long season, they have played a lot of games recently. I can’t remember how many weeks it is maybe four or five weeks ago. That is still in the body and now they have got that freshness back which is so important to play these games. It will be a competitive game and there will be pros and cons for both teams tomorrow."
What are the exact disciplinary issues with Bissouma?
"He has been late several times and the latest time was one too many. With everything you need to give your players a lot of love, but also have demands and there also needs to be consequences, and this time there was a consequence for that."
How ready are you for the start of the season?
"I think I have a good team and a good squad. This transfer window, we are definitely in the market and will do everything we can to make the best possible and strong squad for September 1 so there are a few things in the air shall we say along the way. The last two days, we trained Sunday, Monday, two top training sessions. Nice, light training and we will be ready tomorrow."
Is it the right time for the final against PSG or did you need more time?
"The right time is now so we need to be ready. I can't postpone it for six weeks unless you have a plan for that. For me, now is the right time. We're ready. It's fair to say they are probably a little bit further down the line in terms of their highest performance level. I am 100 per cent sure it will be super competitive tomorrow in the game but overall of course over a whole season their best players performed better. But in one game, we will be ready."
What do you think about Eberechi Eze and would you like him to sign for Tottenham?
"There are a lot of good players out there, there are also a few from the PSG team but I don't think we can buy them right now. In general, players in and players out, I'm only speaking if something is done or not done. I speak only about my own players."
What does Antonin Kinsky's future hold as there were suggestions he would be sent out on loan this season?
"He's a very good goalkeeper, very pleased with him. We are privileged to have three good goalkeepers in Vicario, Antonin and Brandon. There was good competition last year. Clearly we need good keepers in the squad. Antonin in my opinion has a great future ahead of him and he is clearly a Tottenham player this season."
What does Bissouma have to do to build bridges with you and the squad and also have you decided on your captain for the season?
"For me there has been, how can I say it, a consequence for this trip and then I will follow up when I come home. I will park it now because there is a relatively important game for tomorrow. The captain will be announced for the squad tomorrow. The leadership group will be named at the end of this month."
