On the back of a positive start to the new campaign, Tottenham Hotspur have lost three consecutive Premier League games to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Follow Us
Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo has downplayed the criticism he and his team has received due to their recent performances. On the back of a positive start to the new campaign, Tottenham have lost three consecutive Premier League games to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal. In the summer, there were many names linked with the manager role at Spurs, but the club ended with the appointment of Nuno in June. Despite doing a commanding job at Wolves, Nuno has been criticised for his style of play at Tottenham. They were top of the league after winning their opening three matches 1-0, but have struggled to maintain that form since then.
Meanwhile, Nuno Espirito Santo has insisted he was told the club’s philosophy when he took charge in the summer, as he is focused to win over the supporters. “I’ve been told [the philosophy] and everybody knows,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s football, everybody wants to play good. Everybody wants to play offensively, everybody wants to score. This is what we chase. Sometimes it’s not possible but we are aware that this is what we want to do but it takes a building process to achieve it and we are trying.
“The criticism is normal. Everybody knows how this industry works. When you don’t play good, when you don’t perform and results don’t go your way, criticism is something you have to deal with. We understand it and it’s up to us to react and change it.”
On Thursday, Spurs face Slovenian side NS Mura in the Europa Conference League. The London club will be eager to put their recent disappointments behind during their European duty. Despite concerns from certain sections of the supporters, Nuno insists that he is not bothered about judgement. “I’m not worried about the judgement. What I’m worried about is how we can play better,” he said.
“The judgement, the criticism and the opinion is all part of the game and we have to deal with that. That doesn’t interfere with the way we work. It can only distract us. My focus is on how we can improve.
“In terms of the fans, now is not the moment to ask them. Of course, we need them, we need their support because the players and the team need the support of the fans, but it’s not a moment to ask them.
“It’s a moment to deliver. We have to give them a team that is solid and playing good and then things will go back to normal.”
The Tottenham manager was also asked about forward Harry Kane’s poor form of late. The 28-year-old has not scored in five Premier League appearances this season. It follows a summer of transfer saga, reportedly linking him with a move to Manchester City, but it failed to materialise.
“What happened is in the past. What I’m worried about is with the team,” Nuno said. “We want the best of all our players. We want the best of Harry, we want the best of all of them and only with the best of all of us we can go through this situation.”
