Mauricio Pochettino has mixed feelings about pre-season tours to far-flung corners of the globe, but the Tottenham manager admitted that the trip to Asia had yielded more positives than expected.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Harry Winks and Lucas Moura showed no signs of a Champions League Final hangover, while club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele took barely a minute to impress in the 3-2 win over Juventus in Singapore.
Even Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in Shanghai was overshadowed by a bumper new sponsorship deal and interest in Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, reflecting the club’s impressive growth.
Searing questions remain, however — not least how the club will reshape Pochettino’s squad in the final two weeks of the transfer window. The Argentine had called for a “painful” summer of rebuilding, but Ndombele is, so far, the only addition to the squad.
Barring a fresh wave of youngsters being given a chance to shine, Spurs did not look very different in Asia to last season — which is surely not what Pochettino had in mind for their “new chapter”.
Manager’s answers betray frustration
Pochettino concluded the tour by advising the media not to bother asking him about transfers or contracts in future, insisting he will leave the club to update supporters.
The message was in keeping with his rhetoric over the past 10 days, in which he has distanced himself from the club’s transfer business, insisting he does not have full say on incomings and repeating that he will be happy with whatever squad he is left with on August 8. Chairman Daniel Levy is used to Pochettino’s public mood swings and, behind the scenes, the manager has been on fine form, notably during dinner with his coaches, Levy, Jan Vertonghen and Kane at a Shanghai restaurant on Wednesday.
Pochettino’s evasive responses to transfer questions point to an element of frustration at the club’s approach to this summer, however, and their business — and his message — in the final two weeks of the transfer window will be telling.
Parrott looks the part
Have Tottenham unearthed another gem? Quite possibly, as Troy Parrott caught the eye in Asia. Pochettino is said to adore the 17-year-old Irishman and it was easy to see why in two impressive displays. Blessed with a fine touch, strength and a turn of pace, Parrott led the line against Juve, assisting Erik Lamela’s goal, before partnering Kane up front yesterday.
Pochettino has suggested he will only be part of his first-team this season if Spurs fail to add to the squad, but the teenager did not look out of place at senior level. Parrott should expect to make a handful of appearances this season.
Future still uncertain for Eriksen and Alderweireld
The expiration date of Toby Alderweireld’s £25million release clause felt like a ticking time bomb at the start of the summer, but it came and went without so much as a whimper. Levy will now decide the Belgian’s asking price.
Alderweireld will surely remain at Spurs for another year and, while supporters are delighted, it is more complicated for the club, who face losing him for nothing next summer.
Christian Eriksen has also entered the final year of his contract and appears no closer to finding the “new challenge” he has publicly coveted. Their futures will continue to hang over the club unless they sign new deals or are sold.
New deal paves way for new model
Yesterday’s announcement of a new eight-year partnership with AIA, worth more than £320million (over £40m per season), leaves Spurs with the third-most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal in the Premier League.
A few years ago, besting Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in commercial stakes would have seemed unlikely, but Spurs’s progress on the pitch is paying dividends off it. The number of Spurs shirts on show in Singapore and Shanghai was impressive. Spurs still have a £1bn stadium to pay off, so it remains to be seen how lavishly they can spend on players, but their commercial strategies are clearly working.
Full-backs a concern
Spurs finished yesterday’s defeat with little-known youngsters George Marsh and Harvey White at full-back. Once such a strength for Pochettino in the heyday of Kyle Walker and Danny Rose, full-back is threatening to be a problem position for the second season running.
Trippier has joined Atletico Madrid and Serge Aurier has done little to suggest he is a reliable replacement. Kyle Walker-Peters and Juan Foyth are promising but neither convinced last season, nor on tour. At left-back, Rose is for sale and Ben Davies is steady but unspectacular.
