ON YER BED, SON Spurs back sleep science with six-star hotel
TOTTENHAM are all about the Winks this season — and everyone getting 40 of ’em, including Harry.
Mauricio Pochettino’s stars have all been sent new mattresses and pillows, scientifically tested and designed for elite sports people.
That new kit for the players’ homes is identical to what they’ll find in their rooms at The Lodge, the new six-star private hotel at the club’s training complex.
The belief among many sports scientists is that an hour’s sleep after training aids recovery better than any alternative method.
So the club want to make sure that Winks, Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Co are napping at the top of their game.
Pochettino’s men used The Lodge after jetting back from Italy earlier this month following their 2-1 defeat by Inter Milan in the Champions League.
That saved them from having to head home, then come back the next day for a warm-down session.
Snoozing
The hotel is seen as key to helping players recover from the demands of matches, training and travel as quickly as possible.
Spurs stars now have the option of snoozing for an hour after training before heading for home. They can also grab a nap between sessions if Pochettino decides to double the day’s workload with a morning and afternoon programme.
Previously, the players used a recreation room at the training centre to rest.
The Lodge, which boasts 45 bedrooms, opened in the summer. Brazil’s World Cup squad used it as a base before jetting to Russia. It features the most advanced sports science facilities, including an altitude chamber. Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal also boast the latest technology. But in terms of onsite beds, few get near the luxury that Tottenham’s stars are quickly growing used to at The Lodge. It is all in the pursuit of ‘fine margins’ — and Spurs might have caught the others napping. Manchester United had sleep pods installed at their Carrington training base in 2014, and other clubs followed. Crystal Palace and Swansea got portable Snoozeboxes. But the popularity of makeshift solutions has dipped, with players moaning about them. Wait till they see what the Tottenham lads are getting.