Nuno will not stand any more surrender
WOLVES SPURS MUST SHAPE UP MENTALLY
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO has warned his Tottenham players to work on their mentality to prevent a repeat of their surrender at his former club Wolves last season.
Spurs led in this fixture after just a minute through Tanguy Ndombele – only to concede with four minutes remaining in what became a familiar pattern.
In total, Spurs blew a staggering 21 points from winning positions last season in the Premier League.
Other notable collapses came against Fulham, Crystal Palace, in the north London derby against Arsenal and at home to Manchester United, Aston Villa and West Ham.
New Spurs head coach Nuno said: “Of course mentality, focus, concentration to all the actions in the games are the basic principle of football, no matter which minute it is in the game. Mentality is one of the main reasons for success.”
Spurs’ gritty, disciplined, shock opening-day win over defending champions Manchester City last Sunday suggested the penny has dropped for the north Londoners.
But Nuno admitted there were elements of the performance, early on, with which he was unhappy – despite the upset.
He said: “It was a good starting point. But there are a lot of things to improve. The way the players dealt with the game against City was good. But there are still things to improve.
“We didn’t start the game well. In the first 15 minutes City had two or three clear chances that would have changed all that happened afterwards.
“So mentality? It’s basic. From minute one to the last minute. But it was a good starting point.”
Nuno managed Wolves for four years, taking charge in May 2017 and leading the club back to the Premier League after a six-year absence.
He left by mutual consent at the end of last season but insists he has fond memories ahead of his return with his new club tomorrow.
“I will go there with focus on my job but with a lot of respect when I enter Molineux,” he said.
“It was four years of our life, which were huge for everyone. I will go there focused on my task but with a smile on my face.”
Nuno paid tribute to France goalkeeper and Spurs captain Hugo Lloris, who will play his 300th game for the club tomorrow. Lloris, 34, signed for £12million from Lyon in 2012.
Nuno, a former goalkeeper, said: “It is a fantastic achievement – 300 games for the club shows loyalty and respect and this is Hugo every day since we arrived.
“He prepares himself well, he had a good game against City. He is the captain of the club, a huge achievement.
“I have been lucky to have had a lot of good goalkeepers in my teams.”