Here's every single word the Tottenham Hotspur head coach said ahead of the friendly match against West Ham United in Australia
How did your conversation with Harry go?
Question one, eh? I had a good chat with Harry. As I said before (in his first press conference), nothing earth-shattering or defining from I guess what people are seeking.
Just a good chat. I introduced myself and we spoke mainly about the club and where he thinks it’s at and where he thinks we can improve things. (We’ve been) training ever since, it’s been good.How confident are you that you’ve got your vision over to him and how confident are you that he wants to be part of it?
It’s not a specific vision for one person, it’s about the group. Me and Harry were perfectly aligned in that, we want to see a successful team this year.For me it’s about really focusing on everybody and making sure we set the environment in the right way. The players have been brilliant so far, really receptive and open-minded about what we’re trying to do. Coaches have been brilliant in delivering that message. It’s been as positive as you can. It’s pre-season, you know. I think everyone thinks they have a great pre-season until the games start but so far it’s been good.
Have you had any indication if you have Harry for the season?
Again, I said the discussion wasn’t really about that. It was more about the collective and what we’re doing. Harry’s the same as all the other players, you know. It’s not something I ask when they walk through the door, ‘Have you got a ticket or not?’It’s just about as we go along, we’re working hard as a group. Some will be on for the whole journey and others won’t. But a lot of that gets decided along the way. It’s not something that I’m sitting down and demanding from people right from the outset.The reality is we have a bit less than a month before the season starts, the transfer window is still open for a while, so we’ll see how it all transpires.Does the Bayern Munich noise bother you?
Me, personally, no. No one has spoken to me from Munich!No, but Hoeness was speaking publicly. Does that bother the environment you’re creating?
There hasn’t been a discussion. There are a lot of people that know Harry better than me but he’s not going to get fazed by anything. He’s here and while he’s here, he’s totally committed to what we’re doing.That’s that way I’ve seen things. In terms of me, it has zero impact on me. If other clubs want to talk about our contracted players, that’s more of an issue for them than us.You say it has zero impact on you, do you feel it’s present among the group?
To be fair since the last press conference I haven’t had a discussion about it. Until the next one, I probably won’t mention it again, which is fair enough. It’s where people outside the group are more focused on.I said at the first press conference that I have a certain amount of time to get this team right for the start of the season and I’m not going to wait until things become certain about anything to start that process. We needed to start it straight away and that’s what we’ve done. That’s what we’ll keep doing.It doesn’t mean that every time I come to a press conference I won’t have to answer questions about it but in between, certainly no focus on it.
How does it feel to be taking charge of your first Spurs match on home soil?
Pretty bizarre, to be fair. Could have gone anywhere in the world and ended up, well, four and a half hours from my home, but back in Australia, which is great. Chuffed to bits that this is going to be our first official game. I always enjoy it – obviously I came here with Celtic last year. I knew the lads would enjoy it here, the weather's beautiful, it's been great, [I knew] they would enjoy the environment here and I think they have. It's important for us, it's an important tour for us because we get to spend some time as a group, get to know one another, and so far it's been positive.
How do you envisage success in your first season?
I think I said in my first press conference, my major barometer will be our fans. If our fans are happy at the end of the year, then we've done a good job.Your arrival is a big deal for Australian football. Have you had a moment to think about what your position is going to do for the awareness of Australian football?
It's fair to say that since the appointment, there's been a fair bit of attention, which is great – not so much for me personally, but for the game in Australia, absolutely. It's been a big 12 months for the game itself: the Socceroos were brilliant at the World Cup, we've got the Women's World Cup which is going to be great for the nation. Any focus there is on football is brilliant, and if I can add to that a little bit, it's great, and I take great pride in that.Can you feel any similarities or differences compared to the early weeks of previous tenures?
Yeah look, there's always differences. I've been lucky enough as a manager to coach in different countries, different levels, and I've enjoyed every experience. Every experience has made me a better manager and more important, a better person. You're dealing with different people from different backgrounds, and I enjoy every bit of it. I've always enjoyed the start of every job I've had, and this is no different: I'm working with some quality people, it's a great group, we've got some massive challenges ahead of us, but the whole group has been really receptive and we're really looking forward to this. We've got some fantastic footballers and more importantly, some fantastic people who happen to be great footballers, at the club, and looking forward to working with them.
You've brought 31 players and left six at home, what squad size do you want to start the season at the end of the transfer window?
Fair to say less than that. I don’t think that’s helpful for anyone, the players included. My view has always been to treat everyone the same. Whether it’s short, medium or long term, they’re all part of our club so I don’t differentiate. We brought a group that are all healthy and fit and can play.
Will they all be there at the start of the year? Unlikely, very unlikely. But that doesn’t mean I’ll treat them any differently now. That’s just the way I work. Obviously, the players will look for opportunities elsewhere if they think they’re not going to get them here. When that comes across my desk I’ll discuss it with the players and we’ll come to the decision that’s best for all of us.Are you aiming for a tight squad of about 25?We’re trying to make a squad that’s going to be robust enough to play the football. Exact numbers are not important. We’re going to play numbers a certain way and to do that will require a strong squad, not just a strong 11. What that magic number is, we’ll see.What do you make of the health of Aussie soccer?I’ve always kept tabs on it. where it is right now is where it’s been many times. It’s what happens from now on. Australian football has always been good at making a mark. Sonny mentioned 2015 and the Asian Cup and barely a ripple. Hopefully, now it’s getting great exposure all over the world. In the UK, there’s great exposure there. There’s a great chance to make an impact, the Socceroos were brilliant at the WC. The A League is producing good young players. It’s about the game taking advantage of that and making an indelible footprint in the sporting landscape here, which as we know is always challenging. It’s where it’s been a lot of times. Hopefully, this time it takes advantage of it.Is it different this time?Dunno.Have you spoken to Hugo?Yeah I had a good chat with Hugo. He's been an outstanding servant for this football club for quite a long time. Captain of the club, and has left an indelible mark on Tottenham Hotspur football club. I had a chat with him and he felt that he's hoping for a move somewhere else so he can play and begin the next phase of his career. I had a good chat with and left it up to him whether he wanted to come along because I think he deserves that respect to garner the direction of his own future. Because of his standing.I've only had two or three chats with him but even in training I can see he's not only an outstanding goalkeeper but an outstanding human being. From my perspective we had an open discussion and he just felt that with a move imminent it would be better for him that rather than bringing him halfway around the world he stays at the training ground and works there and prepares for his next opportunity.It doesn't diminish what he's contributed to the football club. It's the hardest thing for a footballer that you can't write your endings.It's probably not the way he wanted to end his time at Tottenham with everything that he's contributed, but at the same time I don't think it needs to be anything other than a positive outcome in that he leaves as someone who's made a mark at a very big football club, and I guess for all players that's what they're looking for.
Have you decided on a new captain?No, not yet. Again, it's about me getting to know the group and allowing that to develop. Some of those things you're better off letting it grow organically rather than forcing things and having preconceived ideas. I just want to see how the group works. And like I say, so far the whole group has been really strong in terms of committing to what we're going to do, and that's what you want to see. Within that you see individuals who will look to lead, and they all lead in different ways.
It's not always the loudest or the highest profile, it's sometimes by actions and what I'm looking for is leadership within the whole group. Guys that are prepared to take some responsibility for what we're about to embark on.
If Hugo does get his move away from the club, would you like to add another goalkeeper to your squad?
So far, Fraser is not with us, he's obviously recovering from his injury but it's fair to say that Guglielmo Vicario has settled in really well with the group. He's a good guy and an exceptional goalkeeper.
At the moment I'm pretty comfortable. It's fair to say that my interests are kind of elsewhere in terms of incoming goalkeepers at the moment.What are your thoughts on the signing of Manor Solomon?
It's great to get Manor in. He's someone who was identified pretty early. People are well aware of the way I set my teams up and those attacking positions, particularly the wide attacking positions, are really important so you look for players that can have those characteristics.
He's also a young guy who's really ambitious. I love working with guys who still have a great desire and fire in their belly to achieve. The same way Sonny spoke about still wanting to show people what he's all about at Premier League level so bringing in guys like Manor, Madders and the three boys, who have added that energy which is great.
I'm sure he will contribute and learn and develop. He's got some fantastic role models at the club already to learn off and I'm sure he will be a really good contributor for us.Do you have ever sit back and look at how life has changed and the success you've had over the years?
No mate because it's just finding houses to live that is driving me nuts. I've moved the family around everywhere. We've loved it though. We loved living in Japan. It was totally different from living in Oz. Then moving to Scotland was a totally different experience and now moving to London.
We made a decision that when we left the Socceroos that we'd just see where life and the game took us. That's the beauty of football. It takes you to all different parts. We've enjoyed living in all the places.
I think it gives us a different perspective on life when you're living in different places. Different languages, Japan and Scotland, I don't understand what they're saying, so I haven't really had a chance to reflect.
At the same time you kind of understand that it only happens if I'm totally focused on what's in front of me right now and I've got a great responsibility. This is a massive football club and it's got a following all over the world. It's got a glorious history and when you take a position here you're excited but also understand it's a massive responsibility for me to bring success here.So that allows you to be quite narrow minded. There will be a time for reflection and it's great sharing it with the people who are closest to you, but it's all about the task at hand.Is there a contrast to the transfer market now at Spurs as opposed to when managing in Australia?It’s all kind of relative. I have said before that people are kind of, not dismissive, but they kind of think success at a lower level is something easier than a higher level. But you are always competing against comparable competition. So, every time I have moved it’s allowed me to work with a different type of player, a different level of player. It’s fair to say it’s the same here. But I have access to some fantastic footballers here at the club that I can work with and hopefully try and develop.
We can bring in some quality players, the same as every other Premier League club. So from that perspective it’s just about, like I said, trying to do what I do in the best possible manner possible to make us competitive. In terms of the kind of players we bring in, for me it is still a big thing the kind of people they are more than the kind of player - because the world is full of fantastic footballers. It’s whether they fit into the game I want to play, and in terms of people whether they fit into the environment I want to create.Been to Ashes, Wimbledon, not a bad start to London life?Yeah, I’ve been working as well! But yeah, it was great to just sort of do a couple of things that are on a bucket list when they are on your doorstep. We are pretty blessed growing up in Australia, particularly me in Melbourne. I had the best of most codes right on my doorstep. To be in London, that’s the beauty of it - particularly this time of year. I enjoyed the days. They were both great days. It gave me a chance to switch off momentarily from what’s more important.Players like to visualise success, what about you as a manager? What do you see with Tottenham?Nothing has really changed in the way I do things. What I do try and envisage is the team playing a certain way. That’s what drives me. I want the team to play football that is exciting for the fans and ultimately brings success. But all these kind of things, they are all step-by-step processes for me. I am fairly narrow-minded on just focusing on the present and making sure we are doing the best we can. I keep saying to the players: ‘Every day is an opportunity for us to improve, me include’. Every training session is an opportunity for us to get a little bit better, with the final goal in mind to produce a team that hopefully plays the football that brings us success.Speak a lot about the influence of your dad, what would he say to you now you’re a PL manager?Don’t stuff it up mate’. Yeah, look, for all of us there are always people in our lives you realise…I mean Sonny is probably the same. He’s got family, his dad, all these people who you know make the sacrifices along the way and when you are in this position a lot of it is about trying to payback for that, because none of it would have happened without their sacrifices. My dad, my mum, I had a really happy childhood, but I know they were working hard to make sure I didn’t realise just how tough it was for us as a family. I have said before, he has been the greatest influence on my life. He still is. He is not around anymore. But he was also a hard man, hard to please. So, he’d pat me on the back but then give me a smack on the head as well, just to make sure that I stay focused on what’s important. He always said you do these things for other people and I am doing it for my family now, my boys, my wife and all those people.