Tottenham Hotspur

Here's what he had to say...

Is there good news on Porro, Tonali, Maddison - is he maybe close to starting? What's the latest?

Roberto: "Porro, Tonali, Maddison, all are available to play. Normally, we have to understand the situation in terms of physical condition, but all of them are ready."

Pick you starting Xi to take on Villa

It's a new extended international break coming up. What do you have planned? Do you have maybe friendly matches, training elsewhere?

Roberto: "We have to understand how many players can stay or not, because also the important players, I think they stay, and we have to organise the rest."

So maybe some players who need to stay, who have had long injuries, will stay?

Roberto: "For example, Udogie, we have to see if he goes with Italy or not, because I hope all my players are selected for their national team, but in case they don't go, especially for the players like Udogie or James Maddison, we have to make the right plan to work, to stay ready when the Premier League restarts."

Is it a good time to have a break or would you have liked more games coming? For you personally, you didn't have a break in the summer, you worked. Do you personally need a little week away?

Roberto: "We have to accept, and nothing more. I would work every day, but if we have to stop, we stop. Most important is the game of tomorrow. Tough game, but we have the qualities, the players to play well, because if we don't play well, we can't win. Or maybe one time per season, two times per season and stop."

You said James Maddison obviously is available. How close could he be to starting a match this season?

Roberto: "Listen, James is working with the team in the last 10, 15 days, maybe less than 15 days. Even if he's a technical player, he needs to be fit, to stay in a good condition. When he arrives to the best condition, it's very important for us as a personality, as a characteristic, as a quality, as an experience. The quality of his passes are different than the others. Maybe just Kudus, but Kudus also is not used to playing in the same. We have to see. Mateus, he can play as a number 10, but he has to be more sure in the last decision, the shot and the pass."

How important is it for you, for your philosophy and the way you want to play, to have a specific player like Maddison who is used to playing as a 10?

Roberto: "I'm very happy. I'm very happy for the squad. I have really specific players. Also, the two centre-backs against Liverpool, Senesi and Tosin, they played very well. I'm happy about these players."

Villa have only got one point so far this season. You obviously would have charted their progress so far. Why do you think they've struggled?

Roberto: "Well, they have one of the best coaches in the world. They've changed many players like us. They brought younger, but very good players. Potential, very good players. Their style is clear, even though they've changed many players. So, it's a tough game for us. I think it's a tough game also for them."

We've seen Dejan Kulusevski back in training - how do you stop yourself getting quite excited about having a player like that back involved when you've got to be so cautious with him?

In your job, you have to be like a psychologist as well, the way you speak to players. How difficult is it with someone like Deki, who's been out for so long, to kind of give him encouragement, but not too much encouragement?

Roberto: "No, he doesn't need my encouragement, because he's strong, he has a great character, and he's an example for everyone."

Talking about the international break, you've got so many players who need the fitness, need the work, like Maddison, Solanke, maybe Udogie and Kulusevski - is it a crucial period?

Roberto: "Yes, for those players for sure, but also for the others, because we started in the pre-season without a great physical condition, and the players, they have to understand the intensity of the Premier League, in Europe it's very high intensity, and the holidays, everything, but they can't lose all their physical condition. They have to work, we have prepared the plan for the individual training, because when the group comes back to us, we have to start immediately."

You're in a situation in which you're improving the performances, but the results are not what you want, yet. What do you focus on? Keeping improving performances, or just get the result?

Roberto: "We have to improve in everything, because like I said, after the game we conceded the first goal in a bad way, because we knew what was the plan in the defensive phase. One long ball on Gakpo is not enough to concede a goal. Also the second goal could have closed Gakpo better and stronger, and the third goal is an individual skill of Szoboszlai. We can improve in the qualities of the play. I think we created more chances than the other games, also because Liverpool played with more courage. There was more space to attack, to make one-to-one, but I have experience enough to say that sometimes when you are the coach of the team, without you knowing the reason, you are able to score, you can score. And other times, another situation where I think you are playing well, not fantastic, but well enough to score, enough to win, and you don't win. You have to stay calm, to be confident in what you are doing, what the players are doing. They have my full confidence. We move on and we keep going to be better day by day, but not by words, but by fact."

These first few weeks, have the players changed doing what you want to do?

Roberto: "No, why?"

Maybe performances or results – I am not saying in general?

Roberto: "No, I work more. I don’t know if I work better, but for sure I work more. Not for the results but for the improvement we have to do where we are not so good. Nothing more, but it’s football, it is like this."

Predict the Score | Spurs vs Aston Villa

There is lots of noise about no wins in the Premier League, no goals, but you are calm. Does it feel calm inside the club as well, everyone knowing it's a process?

Roberto: "I don’t know but what I understood is I think so, anyway, I go forward with the players and I think it is not right to explain the reason why I think we didn’t start in the best way. There are many, many reasons but it is not the right place to explain. Just to take the responsibility, just to take the responsibility where we have to improve and nothing more."

You spoke last season about balance - not too high after a win, not too low after a defeat - have you seen an improvement with that during this period?

Roberto: "Yes, yes, yes for sure and you can show in the reaction we show and you can see after the second goal of Gakpo. We show a great reaction and deserve another goal. You can see the beginning of the Liverpool game, the first 10 to 15 minutes, we create two big, big chances to score. Yes, as a reaction I can’t say nothing."

Luca Williams-Barnett has been injured but fit now - is he someone you are considering off the bench in the right moment?

Roberto: "Yes, I have a big consideration because he is a good player and he is a potential top player. We have to understand when is the best situation for him and for the team also. It is a different job to manage the young, young player and especially when this young player is a potential top player, because you can’t put them in the bad condition or bad situation, but also you can’t forget of them. I didn’t forget about Luca, like Malachi, but we have to find the right moment."

Pedro has missed our last two matches against Everton and Liverpool after starting against Newcastle and Forest while Sandro didn't make the midweek trip to Anfield due to a knock.

Roberto was asked in Friday's pre-match press conference if Pedro, Sandro and James Maddison were ready to start against Villa - Madders came on for the final 15 minutes at Anfield.

He said: "Porro, Tonali, Maddison are all available to play. Normally, we have to understand the situation in terms of physical condition, but all of them are ready."

Asked more about Madders, Roberto added: "James is working with the team the last 10, 15 days, maybe less than 15 days. Even if he is a technical player, he needs to be fit, to stay in a good condition. When he arrives to the best condition, it is very important for us, as a personality, as a characteristic, as a quality, as an experience, the quality of his passes are different than the others."

Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski, Mykhailo Mudryk and Wilson Odobert remain out.

Choose your XI - play Selector

We have teamed up with Scout to help bring you hints, tips and advice during the 2026/27 season.

Scout will be using their expertise to provide advice and matchweek tips which should prove useful in ensuring you win your mini-leagues and helping you towards a chance at claiming some WSL prizes.

If you missed the deadline to sign up before the first two matchweeks, you are still able to build a 15-player fantasy squad and battle it out with fellow Spurs supporters in our Official League, which can be joined by selecting us as your favourite club.

Different to other fantasy games, the season is split into six blocks called ‘legs’, each with its own leaderboard and its own prize, meaning that a late start does not end the season because of the opportunity to win legs throughout the campaign.

Best of Spurs

It was another great result for us in Matchday Two of the WSL. We are now unbeaten in each of our last five WSL games and as a result, there were some good returns from our players in WSL Fantasy.

Goalkeeper Lize Kop (£5.0m) was our top scoring player in WSL Fantasy in Matchday 2. Lize registered 5-points against Liverpool. Our defence faced 18 shots from Liverpool with Lize making five saves. This saw her register her first save point of the season. Lize also made 10 recoveries in the fixture meaning that she earnt an additional point for 10 defensive actions.

So far this season, Lize has registered seven saves and 30 defensive actions. She has already returned a bonus point.

Despite not registering an attacking return in Matchday Two, Matilda Vinberg (£6.5m) continues to look like a good investment in WSL Fantasy.

Matilda had an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.48 in the opening two weeks of the season with a pass completion rate of over 82.7% with much of this critical to our build up play. She created two chances in Matchday One and another in Matchday Two.

Matilda also has excellent defensive stats in the opening weeks with nine recoveries, two interception, one successful tackle and one block so far this season.

Spotlight: Shekiera Martinez (£7.0m)

Shekiera has gone under the radar of many WSL fantasy managers in the opening weeks of the season. The forward has come off the bench in each of the last two matches, registering 65 minutes of football in Matchday Two, replacing Cathinka Tandberg (£6.5m) after she was substituted after an awkward landing.

Shekiera registered two shots in the fixture against Liverpool, however she also had good defensive numbers in this one.

Her seven defensive contributions means that she was averaging one every 9.2 minutes. Had Shekiera been on the pitch for the full match she would likely have become one of the only forwards in the game to register defensive contribution points so far.

We play Crystal Palace in Matchday Three. Shekiera has an excellent record against our London neighbours. Our forward has scored twice as many goals against Crystal Palace than any other side in the WSL (4).

Most Transferred in

Another fantastic performance from Spurs in Matchday Two has led to many WSL Fantasy managers investing in our players.

Kirsty Hanson (£8.0m) is once again our most transferred in player. Kirsty is currently averaging 10-points per match and is found in 17% of WSL Fantasy teams. Toko Koga (5.5m) and Signe Gupset (£6.0m) are also proving popular with managers.

Toko returned an additional point in Matchday Two as she registered 11 defensive actions. Meanwhile, Signe was unlucky not to register an attacking return as it was her ball that led to the Liverpool own goal.

Hidden Gem

Here are some key points he had to say…

On Crystal Palace’s start to the season…

“They're in the same position as we are. They've won a game and they've drawn a game. They're one of the only teams not to concede a goal this season, which obviously shows their defensive organisation is really strong. Their attacking play is very good and their one-v-one ability in their forward plays is very unique, so, they pose a huge threat. We know now every game we play, no matter who it is, you're going to have to be at your best to take a result.”

On how competitive the WSL season will be after the opening two games…

“The quality of the league, I said it before the season started in any media, this would probably be one of the most, if not the most competitive season in the WSL for a long time. This is because of the quality of players that have been recruited, the expansion of the league and more investment from clubs. More quality, as I said, not just with young players, but more experienced players either coming back to the league or being in the league or being recruited. So, then just individual developments of teams and squads, I think there's a lot of good work that goes on to enable these players to be at the top of their game, whether that's via coaching or whether that's their own individual work they do themselves. I think the league's just going to get stronger and stronger.”

On what drives him as a person…

“Not being satisfied with what I do today and knowing that there's someone always out there that's doing better than I am. Knowing that if I'm not at my best, then I don't perform, and I don't allow the players to be at their best, then I come away disappointed. But my biggest drivers are probably my family in terms of what they would expect and doing them proud. So, I make sure that every day when I'm in, I give absolutely everything to make sure that the players and staff come away in a good place.”

On whether he is happy with the start of the season…

“Really pleased. Happy with the players, happy with the team and the club as a whole. We bettered the result we got there last year [at Liverpool]. We conceded two really late [last season there]. I didn't think we got into much of a rhythm and when we did get into some spells with the ball, I thought we opened them up in three or four passes and got into really good goal-scoring positions but didn't capitalise on some of them. Then, at times, we were a little bit passive in some of the defending aspects that enabled them to get more of a foothold and probably progress a little bit too easy. But you also have to respect they're a good team. They play good football, they've got a wonderful manager and they've got good players. No matter what game you go into now, there's never a game I go in expecting to win. Every game is now competitive. We know after last weekend's performance, we have to be much better against Palace this weekend.”

On the busy period coming up with the Subway Players Cup set to get underway next week…

“It's going to be a busy period, but that's what you prepare for with your squad planning and your overview of your squad when you start the season. We've made sure we have more depth in terms of numbers, but you want to make sure that the profile and the characteristics of those players are different, so you can maybe attack and play slightly different. But what it does present is a massive opportunity for players to showcase what they can do. Even in the cup games, you're playing against real top WSL teams, so again, the competition level's going to be high. I expect everyone to be ready and able to perform when we call upon them.”

On balancing the competitively of the league but also remaining unpredictable…

“We will never change how we want to look and the way we want to behave, with ball or without the ball. But maybe just some small changes tactically to how you defend, what spaces you defend and where you set traps at times. Then with the ball, trying to utilise the different skill sets of the players. I think that's what makes you unpredictable when you have squad depth, is that no player is exactly the same in terms of what they give you and then making sure that those players are able to perform at their highest level to make it unpredictable for the opponent.”

Predict the score | Crystal Palace vs Spurs

On what the personal goals are this season after an unbeaten start to the campaign…

“A positive start in terms of being unbeaten. A good performance in the first game, maybe not as good in the second game, which we reflected on, and we analysed really well. Then, there's been a really good opportunity this week to train on certain aspects that we want to be better with and then going forward, a big thing I emphasize to the players, no matter if it's start of the season or middle or end, is we don't get carried away with one performance, one result, because the next one will come around very quickly and level you up. We need to make sure that every performance we have, we reflect, we analyse, we come back in really grounded and we look forward to the next performance because every game in this league, as I said, is competitive and any opponent on their day can be very dangerous.”

On being prepared for any London derby…

“We've had many of them now and you have a lot more of them with the amount teams that are based within London. I think if I've got to motivate players to want to play in a London derby, then I'd be a little bit concerned. I don't think I have to with this group. They know, especially the players from London, they know what it means more to play in a derby more than I do. I've now got an understanding of that and then the players who are from London will be able to give that experience and exposure to the players who are new to the Club or not from England itself. I don't have to motivate the players. They know what's expected. They know what it means to play a London derby for this football Club. We've shifted that mindset quite well in the last probably fifteen, sixteen months.”

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

Our number nine was forced to come off in the first half of our fixture at Liverpool last weekend, with our Head Coach confirming after the game that she had suffered a dead leg.

However, the Norway international should be in contention to feature for our trip to Selhurst Park after returning to training on Wednesday

Martin also confirmed that Alice Sombath is available for selection for the London derby during his press conference on Friday morning.

The France international has yet to feature for us since joining in the summer from OL Lyonnes.

"Tinka was a dead leg [on Sunday],” he told the media on Friday. “She had recovery on the Tuesday. She trained on Wednesday, and trains today and hopefully gets through that, and then will be available for the weekend.

“No new injuries, touch wood. Alice is available and ready for the Crystal Palace game, which is good. She's come through some really good weeks of training now and she's available for selection. Once we get through today and tomorrow, we'll have a better idea of what that squad will look like."

Long-term absentees Jess Naz and Maite Oroz remain unavailable as they continue their rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Clare Hunt also continues to recover from her injury.

Choose your starting XI for our trip to Palace | Pick your team below

Fantasy Football Scout have looked at the numbers behind a high-scoring week from our back line and have highlighted a few players to consider adding to your lineup ahead of Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa.

We have teamed up with Scout to help bring you hints, tips and advice during the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season.

They will be using their expertise to provide advice and gameweek tips, which should prove useful in ensuring you win your mini-leagues.

Best of Spurs

Jan Paul Van Hecke (£4.9m) was our top-scoring player with eight points in GW4. Van Hecke returned the two appearance points, four clean sheet points, as well as two defensive contribution points.

Defenders earn the two additional defensive contribution points for making 10 or more defensive actions (clearances, blocks, interceptions and successful tackles) in a game.

Andy Robertson (£4.4m) and Antonin Kinsky (£4.5m) both registered seven points in last week’s stalemate with Everton, with the pair registering the two appearance points for playing over 60 minutes, as well as the four clean sheet points.

Toni’s additional point came in the form of a save point for making three saves, whilst Andy registered a bonus point.

Like his defensive teammates, captain Micky van de Ven (£5.0m) also registered the two appearance points as well as the clean sheet points to finish on six for the gameweek.

Meanwhile, last week’s spotlight player Savio (£6.5m) was unlucky not to register an attacking return against David Moyes’ side, supplying a joint team-leading seven crosses and creating a team-leading four chances against the Toffees

The Brazilian winger was involved in 43 per cent of the chances (shots and chances created) that we had in GW4.

Spotlight: Rodrigo Bentancur (£5.5m)

Rodrigo Bentancur (£5.5m) has started three games so far this season, and in that time, he has returned 10 FPL points but has been unlucky not to register more.

Rodrigo registered two defensive contribution points in our GW3 fixture against Nottingham Forest. In that match, he made 17 defensive contributions, with midfielders needing a combination of 12 or more clearances, blocks, interceptions, successful tackles and ball recoveries to achieve those bonus points.

Our number 30 missed out on the additional two points narrowly in the other two starts he has made, registering 11 defensive actions against Newcastle and 10 against Everton.

He leads the way for interceptions at Spurs in the last three matches, and only Toni has had more ball recoveries in that time than the Uruguay international. Our midfielder is also excellent in the air with 17 aerial duels this season.

As a midfielder, he also benefits from a clean sheet point with every lock-out we produce and has the upside of some attacking threat, having had a shot already.

Spurs’ most popular FPL asset

Goalkeeper Toni is once again the most popular Spurs transfer in, with over 54,000 managers becoming owners of the Czech since his clean sheet against Everton in GW4.

Scout believe that the FPL community are realising the value in our defence, who have registered back-to-back clean sheets in the last two Premier League matches.

JP and Micky are also proving popular with managers this week. Whilst some managers might be investing in our defence for the first time, some are also now choosing to double up on the defence by owning Toni as well as one of our defenders.

In the last three matches, JP has averaged 5.7 points per start and has registered an FPL point every 15.9 minutes. His underlying numbers make him a great FPL investment.

Hidden Gem

Nottingham Forest’s Daniel Munoz (£5.4m) could be a great differential investment for managers. The defender started his first Premier League match for Forest in GW4, and in that fixture he created four chances and supplied four crosses, three of which were successful.

Munoz was directly involved in 23 per cent of the chances (shots and chances created) that Forest generated in GW4. Forest welcome Coventry City to the City Ground in GW5.

Eager to light the touch paper on our 2026/27 campaign, the players were on the training pitch at Hotspur Way getting set for the Premier League lunchtime clash (12noon UK) as we move onto matchday five.

Check out the latest photographs from training in our galleries below...

Who would you start against Aston Villa? Select your starting XI

Roberto used the Italian phrase after our Carabao Cup loss at Liverpool in midweek, where we out-shot the Reds 17-12 only to lose 3-1 with the Reds scoring three world-class goals. The spark certainly arrived after Conor Gallagher reduced arrears at Anfield, but we couldn't find the second to level before Dominik Szoboszlai's late screamer wrapped it up for the home side.

As we focus back on the Premier League and Villa in N17 on Saturday (12.30pm UK), turn the clock back 40 years, and Clive’s La Scintilla moment arrived on the opening day of the 1986/87 season at Villa Park.

Back from serious injury towards the end of the previous 1985/86 season, Clive worked hard throughout the summer and pre-season, was fully fit and raring to go – and an early goal, converting a cross from Tony Galvin, led to a hat-trick on the day, a 3-0 win and started a journey that would end at a club record 49 goals in all competition – a record that still stands today.

Clive, across our games now in his role as pundit and co-commentator on SPURSPLAY, knows exactly the difference goals can make.

“For me, that Villa hat-trick was the perfect start to the season, and the confidence I had from there was unbelievable,” he recalled this week. “I just wanted to play the next game straight away, the next and the next! It was the perfect start for me.

“I'd had a pretty horrendous year the season before, came back towards the end of the previous season, but after working hard in the summer, I was in the best shape I’d ever been. I had a good pre-season, scored a few goals and the team was playing well.

“So, I went into the season confident, but you always want to start well. Villa Park was the perfect start. I knew we’re going to create chances, but to score a hat-trick means you are always confident you are going to take those chances.

“We created chances against Everton, created chances again against Liverpool in midweek – it’s an obvious thing to say, but if we can just get ourselves in front, it could make all the difference.”

Most goals in a season

Selector - choose your XI to face Villa