Mauricio Pochettino has revealed the positive impact Tottenham’s team dinner has had on his squad.
Spurs have won just four of their opening 13 games this season and face a daunting trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
In an attempt to boost morale, Tottenham stars invited Pochettino and his coaching staff to dine at Mayfair restaurant Novikov on Thursday evening.
Spurs boss Pochettino said: “It was very good, very nice, it was very kind of them to invite the coaching staff and different people that help the team.
“It was so nice, of course busy. We spent a few hours there, but it was nice to be together and to see each other in a different environment always helps achieve a positive dynamic.
“You cannot measure how much it will help, 20 per cent, 30 per cent. In the dynamic of the group, this team bonding, for different players or the new players, makes the group stronger.
“It’s not the same, here on the training ground it’s a routine, when you go away from the training ground it’s a different type of relationship and it can help on the pitch.
“When we work on team bonding it is to generate something between us in the group to help us to perform and fight to help your team-mates because you know them better.
“These things are always a positive and never a negative.”
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Below, you can read the best bits from Pochettino’s pre-match press conference…
On his gratitude to his players after Thursday’s team dinner
“On our table we were talking about football, 90 per cent of the conversation. For them it was nice to talk in a different way and to see each other, how you dress when you go to the restaurant.
“That doesn’t mean we will go to Anfield and beat them 5-0 because we were in the restaurant all together, but medium to long-term it will help a lot.
“To be honest, I have paid for a lot of dinners and lunch in five-and-a-half years.
“In that moment when the results are not the results that everyone expects, especially after last season, it was nice of them [to invite me] and that is why I am so grateful and everybody is grateful.”
On Roy Keane saying Manchester United should sign Harry Kane
“I heard the comment. Of course I respect him and admired him when he was a player.
“He was the kind of player who you would want beside you, or as a centre-back like me, you want him in front of you.
“Whenever I listen to him he is very clinical in his comments. Of course he loves good players and Harry Kane is a fantastic player. We more than agree Harry Kane deserves everything.”
On the days after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League final in June
“You need to wait for a new book or the Amazon documentary! No, it was tough. The last game of the season, the final of the Champions League is all or nothing and it was nothing in the end.
“To be second for us, because we are so competitive in football, is nothing. It means a lot for the club to reach the final of the Champions League but the players and staff felt empty after the game.
“With time you can say, okay we played in the final of Champions League but we didn’t win and that will always be with you.
“We’ve spoken a lot about my feelings after that but now we have full energy and we have recovered from that and now it’s the moment to build our confidence and trust and start to show our real talent and potential.”
On Liverpool
“We know each other because we play a lot of games, then it’s having a good game and doing what we plan to do.
“In football that is the key, then in 90 minutes if you show better quality than the opponent and you share some luck in your side.
“We can talk about their strengths and of course unbelievable players and a great coach. I admire Jurgen [Klopp] a lot.
“But at the end, likely always, it is 90 minutes of football and we hope we can perform the way we want and be close to win.
On Ryan Sessegnon’s availability
“Maybe he will be available but it’s always the same – when one is in, one is out.
“If you plan for him to be on the bench you need to put someone out of the bench.
“That is a problem, but it is about waiting, being consistent and showing his quality and to wait for the opportunity that he will have during the season.”
