Tottenham Hotspur

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at the Etihad after Saturday's 2-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League - here's what he had to say...

Q: Another clean sheet, another three points, you must be delighted?

Thomas: "Thank you, yes, very delighted. Extremely proud of the players' performance. I think it was an exceptionally good performance. I think the first 35 minutes, we know a couple of things, we know it's always difficult to play against City. Here at the Etihad it's even more difficult. The first 35 minutes I thought was fairly even, but with City on top, I think they were more on top than us. There was a big mentality shift in terms of staying in the game and keeping doing what we wanted to do, scoring a great goal. Maybe that changed a little bit of momentum, but we definitely stayed on top and went 2-0 up. Second half, I think we were very good. The big spell where we could think that they would put pressure on us, I think we were very aggressive in the high pressure, that we were very front-footed, with the mindset to constantly go for the 3-0 goal. And then, then I must say, that the clean sheet makes me very happy. It's a big thing we've been working on, not on clean sheets as that's easier said than done, but on the defensive side of the game, high pressure, middle block, low block, defend the box mentality, blocking shots, everything, because if you get clean sheets you're closer to winning a game and also last year we had six cleans, so yeah, that's very big for me."

So many good individual performances, but you've got Joao Palhinha in, scoring his first goal for the club, how important is that combination between him and Rodrigo Bentancur?

"I think it's fair to say that we got a few questions about the transfer market yesterday, a lot about why not and what if and all that. What is 100% sure we brought two top players into the club, Kudos and Palhinha, both of them have performed very well, which I'm very pleased with, and then Palhinha, yeah, wow, you know, sometimes players need confidence and they need to be on top and I don't think he's fully fit yet, where I want him to be, but very pleased with his performance and he's definitely helping the team."

You were 2-0 up in the Super Cup but held on this time, what were the lessons learned?

"I referenced it at half-time. When you’re tired keep going. That was one thing. Two, that we had to keep being brave on the ball. Three, that we had to keep being good in the high pressure, but also that’s easier said than done. From every game you learn. From games where you don’t get the result you want, you learn maybe even more. I think in some ways the other thing was a final, this was away at the Etihad. One of the most difficult places to go to, but the defensive principles are more and more and then I think the mentality is the key thing. You need mentality to win games like this."

You spoke yesterday about for each match you compile three key themes or principles, what were the three today?

"Defensive side of the game, be brave in phase one and two, and set pieces."

Did you use the Eze thing as inspiration this week or just not mention it at all?

"I think that's very, very easy (to answer) - I never, ever use one word about any player that's not at our club."

I think it was Jurgen Klopp who said there's no better playmaker in football than an effective press, what do you make of that statement?

"Yeah, it was good, he was a clever man. I need to text him and say, 'hey, that's awfully clever'. I definitely believe in the aggressive press as you saw today, as you saw with my Brentford team, you know, I believe in the high pressure. I believe in if we can be front footed, I like that mentality. I think it's offensive, you know, it's a more offensive way of defending and then it's more fun to defend in the opponent's half, and of course today I think we were very successful also to score a goal from it."

With Sarr in that position does he bring that effective pressing in that central role?

"Yeah, definitely and you say there's a few things. It depends from game to game, players in different positions, systems, but today he was very good like the rest of the team. I think it was difficult to pick one player today. I think everyone performed fantastically."

For the first goal, you managed to beat the Man City offside trap, and it seemed to cause a lot of uncertainty, putting the ball over the top, is that something that you pinpointed to exploit?

"Yeah, we talked about the high line, and one thing is to talk about it and try to train it. It's never that easy. So, to be fair, I think we ran into offside six times before that. So, of course the goal looks very successful and that's what we look at. Well, there's a few times where we didn't do it well enough, but yes, of course, we tried to do it."

You were here a couple of years ago with an outstanding performance from your Brentford team, was this performance even better given that you've only just started to put your fingerprint on this Spurs side?

"I think it's two different teams, two different contexts, but I think that both performances were top and and both performances, when I look back at them, I'll be very proud of."

You referenced earlier that you had quite a lot of questions about the transfer market in the build-up to this game, but is this performance a timely reminder that the success of a season, the success of a team, is not just about what you can do in a transfer market and the players you can bring in?

"Yeah, I think it's extremely important that, a couple of things that we understand we have a good group of players, a talented group players, a group of good quality players that I'm very pleased with. So, that's why we brought in two good players to help. Can we improve it? Perfect. If we can't, you know, then we have very good players and we just showed that today, so yeah, very happy with that."

A brace from Bethany England inspired us to victory over Arsenal in a seven-goal thriller at Meadow Park on Saturday afternoon.

Martin Ho’s second game in charge, it was a pre-season test full of action as we found ourselves 2-1 down at the break, our captain scoring in between Victoria Pelova’s opener and Charlotte Grant’s own goal, however a relentless second-half performance saw us come out on top.

England levelled the scoring from the penalty spot before Matilda Vinberg put us in front for first time three minutes later and, although Caitlin Foord found an equaliser for the hosts, we reinstated our lead 13 minutes from time after Eveliina Summanen’s free-kick found the back of the net, earning Ho’s first win in Spurs colours.

Away from the result, there was also a special moment for Kit Graham who, after nearly 12 months out of action with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, returned to the pitch for the first time as a second-half substitute, rounding off a positive afternoon in pre-season.

We had to weather some early pressure in front of a well-packed crowd in Borehamwood, as Arsenal struck the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds. Pelova’s effort from just inside the box crashed against the underside of the crossbar before Alessia Russo, on the rebound, saw her header bounce off the top of the bar. However, we couldn’t hold off the hosts in their next wave attack on six minutes as Pelova latched onto Emily Fox’s ball forward before drilling low from the right area of the box past Lize Kop at her near post.

Kop was called in action shortly after to tip Katie McCabe’s free-kick from the far right over the bar but, on 14 minutes, we grabbed an equaliser as England showed great anticipation to capitalise on miscoummication inside the hosts’ box before firing into the roof of the net from close range. Drew Spence sent a header over the bar while, at the other end, Mariona Caldentey fired a free-kick from around 25 yards out narrowly wide of the post before they had the ball in the back on the net just after the half hour mark, Grant turning home Beth Mead’s low cross past Kop.

Rybrink went close in the final minute of normal time, heading over from a corner, as we looked for a response after the break. And we certainly delivered that inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour of the second period, England calmly converting from the penalty spot on 59 minutes after Clare Hunt was brought down, before three minutes later, Vinberg put us ahead in the contest for the first time, drilling low into the bottom far corner after a clever flick from Spence to set the forward through on-goal.

Arsenal responded once again on 74 minutes as substitute Caitlin Foord raced behind our backline, using her strength to get away from Clare Hunt, before firing low past Kop from inside the box. But that didn’t dampen our spirit and, three minutes later, we retook the lead as Summanen’s free-kick from around 25 yards out escaped the palms of Anneke Borbe and into the back of the net. We went close to adding a fifth of the afternoon in stoppage-time when Rybrink looped an effort over the bar from close range, as we withheld any late pressure to claim an impressive win in pre-season ahead of our 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League opener next month.

Thomas Frank hailed a ‘team performance’ as we deservedly beat Manchester City 2-0 in the Premier League at the Etihad on Saturday.

Everything has to be right to win at City - and it was - defensive structure, bodies on the line, winning possession, transitions, the high press, creating chances - and two well-taken goals made it another afternoon to remember in the Sky Blue half of Manchester - our third win in five here.

Brennan Johnson produced a trademark finish from Richarlison’s cross for the opener on 35 minutes - initially flagged offside, rightly awarded by VAR - before Palhinha marked his first Premier League start for us with his first goal in added time after our high press put City in all kinds of trouble.

Speaking to us at the Etihad, Thomas reflected: “I’m so happy with the performance and of course, the win. I think the first 35 minutes was even, City slightly on top, us staying in the game, trying to do the right things, showing great mentality. The goal changed a bit of momentum and after the goal, we were on top more or less for the rest of the game.

“The second half was exceptional. The way we came out... we still wanted to play, high pressure, front footed, really aggressive. I think was very, very difficult for them. That, I'm very proud of.

“Then, of course, the clean sheet mentality. A clean sheet is so important, because then it's easier to win football matches. We work so, so hard on it, and big, big credit to the staff, the players, Matt Wells (assistant coach) has done a top job on that side - the high pressure, the middle pressure, the lower block, defending the box, the mentality to make blocks, it’s so important.”

Asked what particularly impressed him, Thomas added: “The mindset from the players was exceptional. They were brave in phase one and two, which we wanted to do, so we could keep the ball, press a bit and let them run when possible. That mentality and aggressive determination, the high pressure, to keep going, keep locking on, we’re tired, but they’re also tired, that was the difference.”

Palhinha marked his first start for us in the Premier League with a goal as we stunned City at the Etihad again on Saturday.

The midfielder was magnificent in a complete team performance and was joined on the scoresheet by Brennan Johnson as we forged into a 2-0 lead in the first half. Once again, our defensive structure was impressive but it wasn't just about sitting in - the final shot count was 12-10 in our favour and there is no doubt we were the deserved winners of this encounter - our third win in five at City.

Thomas Frank made two changes in his second Premier League game in charge. Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur came in for Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, who anchored the midfield in our 3-0 win against Burnley on opening weekend. City also made two changes with Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush in for Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku.

Palhinha and Bentancur provided the extra layer of protection in front of the back four and City's best chaces arrived in the early stages as Guglielmo Vicario twice denied Marmoush, the second the pick after Erling Haaland's pass cut us open and left Marmoush clear in front of goal - Vicario out like a shot to block.

We took the lead on 35 minutes, a well-crafted goal. Pedro Porro clipped up to Sarr, who won a big header on halfway to send Richarlison clear in the right channel. As we've seen so often, Johnson timed his run to perfection to finish first-time from 12 yards. The offside flag went straight up, but it felt like a tight call - and VAR went our way, with Richy onside.

Mo Kudus almost got through again before we doubled our lead two minutes into added time. This time, Trafford played out to Nico Gonzalez, Sarr was all over him and won possession, Trafford managed to scramble the ball away from Richarlison but it fell to Palhinha, who buried from 12 yards.

It felt like we were in complete control in the second half. City saw plenty of possession, as expected, but didn't really open us up - their best chances fell to Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku, both brilliant snubbed out by challenges from Palhinha and Micky van de Ven.

At the other end, we had chances on the break. Johnson curled just over, Richarlison looped a couple of headers just wide and Wilson Odobert was inches away from Lucas Odobert's cut back. Indeed, when Trafford made a late double save from Dominic Solanke and Odobert, it took the shot tally to 12-10 in our favour - no doubting that the points went to the right home, in N17!

We can confirm the starting line-ups and substitutes for this afternoon's Premier League clash at Manchester City (kick-off 12.30pm UK).

Thomas Frank has made two changes to the team that defeated Burnley 3-0 on the opening weekend.

The changes come in midfield for us as youngsters Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall make way for Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Today marks Joao's full Premier League debut for us after he came on a substitute in last Saturday's victory over the Clarets.

Starting XI: Vicario, Palhinha, Richarlison, Romero (c), Kudus, Johnson, Pedro Porro, Spence, Sarr, Bentancur, Van de Ven.

Substitutes: Danso, Tel, Gray, Bergvall, Vuskovic, Solanke, Odobert, Kinsky, Davies.

A fine solo goal from Yusuf Akhamrich and a late strike from Oliver Irow didn’t yield any points as Zach Marsh’s hat-trick gave Crystal Palace victory over our Under-21s in Friday evening’s Premier League 2 clash at Stevenage.

Four days on from our all-action season-opening win at Sunderland, we rotated in areas of the pitch but endured a tough night against a fresh, physical Eagles side playing their first game of the campaign. Centre-forward Marsh scored twice prior to the break – his first somewhat controversial with a big hint of offside in the build-up – before completing his treble to make it 3-1 after a moment of individual brilliance from Akhamrich had threatened to spark a second-half upturn for us.

In truth, Palace had the better chances overall and the game seemed to be fizzling out – until Irow’s 89th-minute goal gave us hope. With seven minutes of added time, we pushed for an equaliser but ultimately Palace had done enough to claim victory – albeit a narrower one than had seemed to be on the cards for a while in the second half.

Rio Kyerematen and Callum Olusesi tried a couple of early shots from distance but with less than three minutes gone, we were on the back foot as Adler Nascimento got away down the left despite big appeals for offside and squared for Marsh to finish routinely from the centre of the box.

Rio Cardines and Nascimento went close to a second for Palace while Irow was denied by a last-ditch tackle in the box by visiting defender Luke Browne in a rare opening for us. Marsh made it two soon afterwards, though, following in after Luca Gunter had parried Asher Agbinone’s effort from out on the right with 11 minutes to go until half-time.

Akhamrich emerged as our biggest attacking threat in the opening stages of the second period and conjured up a goal out of nothing five minutes after the restart to reduce the arrears, collecting the ball on the right flank before cutting inside and firing low inside the near post on his left foot from 20 yards out – a great strike.

Back came Palace, though, with Dylan Reid and Agbinone seeing shots blocked back-to-back by defender Tyrell Ashcroft before Agbinone struck the crossbar from a tight angle on the right, with James Rowswell getting in the way of Nascimento’s follow-up drive. Joel Drakes-Thomas then saw a stooping header from a corner brilliantly saved by Gunter, but after Akhamrich was thwarted in a couple of attempts to haul us level, Marsh bagged a crucial third for the Eagles on 73 minutes after latching onto Agbinone’s pass, seemingly putting the game to bed.

In the 89th minute, however, we found a lifeline as Reiss Russell-Denny won the ball out on the right and played it in to the feet of Luca Williams-Barnett, who turned it forward for Irow to slide home his third goal in two games. Our tails were up as we entered a significant period of added time, but we couldn’t make any further inroads and Palace ran out 3-2 winners.

Man City vs Spurs | An admirable opening away day record

@SpursOfficial

Fri 22 August 2025, 15:30| Tottenham Hotspur

After a home win to start the new Premier League campaign, up next we travel to Manchester City for our first away trip on Saturday lunchtime (kick-off 12.30pm UK) with a fearsome record on the road in such fixtures.

When it comes to maiden top-flight away trips, we haven't tasted defeat in any of the last nine seasons (W4 D5) and have avoided an opening away loss in the month of August since 2015, going unbeaten in 13 matches since then (W6 D7).

Looking to build on last week's 3-0 victory over Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we can also take heart from our fruitful trips to the Etihad in recent years where we have lost just one of our previous four league visits there (W2 D1), coming away with a scintillating 4-0 win in this contest last term.

Travelling to the Sky Blue side of Manchester for Matchday Two, the last four Premier League meetings between the two sides at the Etihad have produced 21 goals (12 for Spurs), with us netting at least twice in all four (4-0 in 2024/25, 3-3 in 2023/24, 2-4 in 2022/23 and 3-2 in 2021/22).

Here are some headline pre-match facts, courtesy of Opta, to get in the mood for Manchester City:

We have scored first in eight of our last 11 Premier League games against Man City, going 1-0 up in each of our previous four away visits.

We have won two of our last four Premier League games at the Etihad (D1 L1), more than we did in our previous 11 visits combined (D2 L8).

Following the 4-0 victory last season, we’re seeking consecutive wins away at Man City for the first time since May, 2010.

We are also unbeaten away from home in each of the last two seasons against both Manchester clubs (D2 in 2023/24, W2 in 2024/25), scoring seven goals and keeping clean sheets in visits to the Etihad (4-0) and Old Trafford (3-0) combined last term.

Under Pep Guardiola (since the start of 2016/17), Man City have lost more Premier League games against Tottenham (seven) than they have against any other side.

After netting a superb brace in our opening win over Burnley, Richarlison has the best minutes-per-goal ratio of any player who has featured across the last two Premier League seasons (a goal every 95 minutes), also enjoying a 27.3 per cent conversion rate.

The Brazilian has also scored 13 goals in his last 16 Premier League starts.

Mohammed Kudus became just the second player to provide two assists on his league debut in Lilywhite after James Maddison did so against Brentford in August, 2023.

Thomas Frank led former side Brentford to a 2-1 victory at the Etihad in November, 2022. The only two previous managers to have beaten Pep Guardiola away in the league with two clubs both have a Spurs connection - José Mourinho (Real Madrid in 2012, Manchester United in 2018) and Antonio Conte (Chelsea in 2016, Spurs in 2022).

In all competitions, Guardiola has lost nine games against us in his managerial career, only losing more against Liverpool (10). We are also one of three teams the Spaniard has faced 10 or more times and won fewer than half of his games against (11/23, 48%), along with Liverpool (6/24, 25%) and Real Madrid (13/27, 48%).

Watch | Last time out at the Etihad

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon, ahead of our Premier League encounter against Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday (12.30pm).

Here's what he had to say...

Q: What's the latest team news and when can you expect Dejan Kulusevski back?

Thomas: "Destiny is better. He's trained with the team twice, full training, and also other training, just too short to be involved for City. We want him to train tomorrow and have another good week next week as well, but he's in a good place, looks very positive about him. Biss will miss this game as well. Kulusevski's out. I think that's a longer one. I don't want to put a time frame on it."

You've had some public transfer misses with Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, how frustrating is it to miss out on just getting them over the line?

"In general, of course, you know I don't speak about specific players unless they are at our fantastic club, and I'm more than happy to speak about all our players. So, that's one thing. Secondly, and there's been a lot of rumours linking us with a lot of players. Also, players where I think, 'oh, he's been linked with us? Interesting'. But a lot of times where it's definitely nothing in it, that's part of the business we talked about before. There must be someone out there that thinks it's good fun to put the rumours out there. But anyway, there'll be a lot of links. There has been a lot of links. There'll be a lot of links in the future. And just to generalise that, to make it very, very clear, I don't want any players that don't want to come to the club. Who don't want to come to the club and wear this fantastic badge. We don't want them here. I think that's very clear, and also pretty sure that the fans will feel the same if they don't want to put the fantastic shirt over their head, Play for the badge, play for the club, Really enjoy it. No problem, then we don't want them there. I think that's a key message."

What would be your message to the Tottenham fans?

"I think, as I said, there's a couple of things. I said it many times. I'll say it again. The club is working very hard to see if we can strengthen the squad, and we only want to strengthen the squad with players that we think are good enough, who can improve the squad. So, that's what they've done from the beginning, and they will continue doing to the end of the window."

What can you say about Richarlison's future?

"Right now, he's my starting nine, scored two fantastic goals, he had two top games, he's the Brazilian number nine. He is a very good player, so I'm very happy with him. Richy wants to stay, I want to keep him, there's been no talks about anything else. He's done well for us."

How do you view the number of creative players in your squad and are club actively looking in that area?

"We just played the first game and scored three goals, so I think that was pretty promising. I know it's a long season and we need enough players and players with different abilities. I think in some of the players we have, Kudus has got that spark and creativity. Wilson does very well, I think Mathys Tel can play different positions. We've got two good strikers in Dom and Richy and then Brennan, the deep runner. I think we've got variation up the pitch but, again, we look out there and if there is anything that can strengthen it and that is in all areas then we are open for it."

What's the best approach to getting a result away at City?

"I don't think there's a go-to system or go-to approach. There is something we're working hard on with our principles. The main thing is we need to go there and be brave. We need to have enough spells on the ball where we can control phase one and two. That will be a big area. I think it's a team that has been, except for last year, for four or five years before that probably the best team in the world. There is no doubt that they want to bounce back. They've definitely been active in the transfer window. If I know Pep well enough, he'll do everything to have demands but also to push the players and want to bounce back, and they will come flying out. We definitely need to be good on the defensive side of the game, also hopefully being brave on the high pressure. I think brave and aggressive are two key words."

What kind of message would a positive result at Etihad send?

"The next game is the most important game and that is against City, one of the three big contenders for the title. We know they are a fantastic team, fantastic manager. To get a result there, also with a good performance, that would just build a bit on the momentum and the bits we have here. We're fully confident, we believe we can get a result there. That's what we're playing for, to be brave but also extremely respectful about Manchester City."

You say you only want players who want to play for the club, so is it a positive then that the player you were chasing, an Arsenal supporter who wanted to go to Arsenal, has gone to Arsenal?

"I don't know about whoever the players, whoever they support, I do not actually care too much about it. We all have a past. The main thing is if the player wants to come or doesn't want to come. So, if they are from Spain, Denmark, Brazil, it doesn't matter, if they want to come, perfect."

To that end, this summer, Spurs, in a high profile manner, were chasing two players, one at Forest and one at Palace, presumably that money is still there for you to spend in the next 10 days in whatever position on the pitch you feel you need to spend it on?

"We are in the market and we will look to see if we can strengthen the team. That's the main bit and that's what we are focusing on. We need to have some good processes really to work hard to see if we can strengthen it. But again, I've said it before, I think we've a good squad, we've got good players. I just saw 23 committed players working very hard, working very hard on the game plan for Man City tomorrow, and that's what I'm excited about."

So despite the long-term injuries you have with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-Min Son having left the club, you're confident off the back of that, that if you don't sign anybody between now and the closing of the transfer window, this club is well equipped to be very competitive in the Premier League and the Champions League?

"I think it's a good question. Of course, we need to do everything we can to make sure we are as competitive as possible. I think we've got six good front players... that, I think, is very competitive, across all the competitions we're going into, and then Kulusevski, he will come back in this season. I think that's a big thing. It's probably longer term with Maddison unfortunately, but I am also pretty confident that we will sign a player before the end of the window."

In terms of numbers, you've had two new faces in Kudus and Palhinha come in, but then Son has left and Maddison is out, is the squad really any stronger than the one you inherited when you first came in?

"You can say that's two players in, two players out, so probably pretty similar I would say, but also, as I said, I think in my first press conference, I think it's a good squad. I think there's some talented players. I think there's some quality players in there as well so probably the same level, but I think that's good. Then it's up to me, together with the players and the staff, to make sure we can compete, and then as I said, we do what we can to strengthen it."

Ideally, every manager would like players in early because you can work with them, but is there any fear that with 10 days left we're at the stage where the club is trying to sign players from clubs that at this point don't want to sell them because it's so late in the window?

"I don't know. I think in general I think any club wants to sign as early as possible. I don't think anyone would want to do that differently. If it was that easy, then everyone could do it. I'm a positive guy. I'm not that fearful if that makes sense. I believe that something will happen."

On the tour you mentioned a natural process of the recruitment side getting to know you better and streamlining that process as Brentford's was, where are you with that?

"It's an ongoing process. That is every day, every week and how we do things, how we understand each other, how we understand let’s say the type of football I play, how I see the game, so that will only grow over time. To expect it to be perfect in eight weeks' time is not realistic, but we are definitely getting closer."

On a similar subject, you also said that your Brentford coaching staff meetings were 15 minutes but here were an hour to begin with, have you brought that down yet?

"Maybe 57 minutes, so slightly better! No, good processes and I also love to discuss football, love to develop and get better and that we only do by discussing things. We’ve had some fantastic discussions."

The week did start with Cristian Romero signing a new deal so no more questions about his contract situation, how pleased are you with his new deal?

"Very pleased. I think that was a fantastic signal from the club and of course from Cristian Romero as well that he believes in the club, the project and the journey we’re just starting. I was extremely happy with that and I also think I understand the exciting thing is to sign players, but I think it is as exciting or maybe more crucial to sign existing top players, and he is one of our top players and he is our captain, so even that was I think a big statement."

You've made a good start to life at Spurs, but it feels from the outside like you’ve been let down by the club's transfer window, do you feel like you’ve been let down?

"No. I say to my players if they work very hard, do everything they can, I can’t ask for anymore. I know the club are working extremely hard and it’s unfortunate that you can’t go into Waitrose and buy two good players then walk away five minutes later. It is a little bit more complicated than that. I see the club working hard, I see Daniel working extremely hard, I see Johan, I see Vinai and we are all on board in terms of doing what we can do to improve."

The 3-5-2 worked vs PSG and you have used it in the past against Man City - when you have a system like that, do you go with it despite a lack of surprise element?

"I treat every game a little bit differently, but it’s definitely in my mind the 3-5-2, it’s definitely in my mind the 4-2-3-1 and I will take a decision on what we do and you’ll see that tomorrow. I am always thinking how can we tweak a little bit, inside our principles. Then of course system can give us something, but principles are the most important thing. So, yeah I will be pragmatic, I will use different systems and different ways to win football matches."

Thomas Frank reports that Destiny Udogie 'is in a good place' although not quite ready to return for our huge Premier League clash at Manchester City on Saturday (12.30pm).

The flying full-back has been out since feeling his knee during the warm up before our pre-season friendly against Luton Town on 26 July.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Thomas gave this update: "Destiny is better, he's trained with the team twice, full training, but just too short to be involved at City. We want him to train tomorrow and have another good week next week, but he's in a good place, we're very positive about him."

Thomas also told the media that Yves Bissouma 'will miss this game' and had a further update on Dejan Kulusevski, who has been sidelined since the end of last season. "Kulusevski is out. It's a longer one. I don't want to put a time frame on it."

Longer-term injured James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai remain out.

We head to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in our second Premier League fixture of the new season on Saturday lunchtime.

Both sides enjoyed high-scoring victories on the opening weekend – while we defeated Burnley 3-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Pep Guardiola’s side ran out 4-0 winners at Wolves.

Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s game...

What time does the match start?

We get underway at the Etihad Stadium at 12.30pm UK time.

How can I watch the game?

Supporters in the UK will be able to watch the game live on TNT Sports 1.

If you’re following us from overseas, check out our Spurs on TV page to see if the game is live in your area.

Our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app will bring you full live text and audio commentary throughout the match, while video highlights will be available on club channels from two hours after the full-time whistle, with a full match replay on SPURSPLAY from midnight.

What is the team news?

Left-back Destiny Udogie is back in training but Thomas Frank confirmed on Friday lunchtime that he won’t be ready to face City.

Midfielder Yves Bissouma also misses out, joining longer-term absentees James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin on the sidelines.

Phil Foden, Rodri and Ederson are back in the frame for the home side.

Foden and Rodri travelled to Wolves last week but were not part of City’s matchday squad, while Ederson was unwell with James Trafford stepping in between the sticks.

Guardiola will consider them all for selection, but Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho are expected to miss out.

Who is the referee?

Saturday’s match will be refereed by Peter Bankes, with Eddie Smart and Blake Antrobus as his assistants and Andrew Kitchen as the fourth official.

VAR duties will be handled by Andy Madley and assistant Sian Massey-Ellis.