Tough pre-season ideal for Wanyama’s Spurs – Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham Hotspur’s tricky pre-season will be ideal preparation for their return to the UEFA Champions League this season.

Spurs lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid to round out their International Champions Cup tour of Australia, having also been beaten by Juventus 2-1.

“It was a really good test for us, because Juventus is I think the best team in Italy and Atletico Madrid in the last two or three years have made two Champions League finals. Today there were eight players that were in the starting line-up against Real Madrid, it’s fantastic. I’m very proud of my players.

“The only difference tonight I think we were better than Atletico Madrid but the only difference was the mistake of the referee. That’s a little bit unlucky because we lost the game, but it was a mistake, no problem. But the result is not important,” the Argentine told the pre-match press conference.

“I think the way we managed the game, to see our two centre-backs Anton [Walkes] and Cameron [Carter-Vickers] playing against Fernando Torres, Godin, world class players like Tiago, Gabi, all international players, I think that was fantastic. For us it was a very positive thing, I think we need to take that and improve. It was a great experience for our squad, for your young players.

“I think we finished the game with nine players who have come through the academy. I feel very proud and happy and we need to follow that. We need to follow that in our way, continue our philosophy and Tottenham has a good future. Only time will tell,” he added.

The north London side meet Inter next week in their final friendly before the Premier League season begins, and Pochettino says he is proud of his players’ performances thus far despite the results.

The Argentine fielded nine players from the club’s academy in the second half against Atletico and expects his squad to adapt well to the demands of Champions League football.