- Title: 'We need all the players ready to fight,' says Tottenham Hotspur coach
- Date: 17th September 2019
- Summary: PIRAEUS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS ENTERING THE PITCH AT GEORGIOS KARAISKAKIS STADIUM FOR TRAINING SESSION TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TRAINING VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR'S FORWARD, SON HEUNG-MIN, TRAINING WITH TEAM MATES VARIOUS OF COACH, MAURICIO POCHETTINO, DURING TRAINING VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS TRAINING VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR'S CAPTAIN AND GOALKEEPER, HUGO LLORIS, TRAINING POCHETTINO SEATED IN PANEL DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR COACH, MAURICIO POCHETTINO, SAYING: "We need all the players ready to fight and ready to play. I think we are going to play in 21 days, seven games and of course all need to be ready to play and we are going to use all the players, nearly all, because if not it's impossible to keep the level that we want to show in every single game. And of course, when you have a big squad with big names that is so unfair to play only with 11, of course you need to give opportunity to all the players to perform." POCHETTINO SEATED IN PANEL DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR COACH MAURICIO POCHETTINO, SAYING: "The key is going to be to match the same excitement and motivation of Olympiakos and then to try and dominate the game. I think both teams with a similar philosophy trying to play football, good football, its going to be important if we will be capable to dominate the game and to try to stop them in the transitions and to try and not give the possibility for them to run, the possibility to play or to force them to play deeper. It's a lot of things that tomorrow we need to do and be in our best to try to beat a team like Olympiakos that is going to be a really really tough game." POCHETTINO STANDING UP AND LEAVING VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS WARMING UP HEUNG-MIN WARMING UP VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS TRAINING HEUNG-MIN DURING TRAINING VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYERS TRAINING OLYMPIAKOS PIRAEUS COACH, PEDRO MARTINS, SEATED DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OLYMPIAKOS COACH, PEDRO MARTINS, SAYING (OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "I think it's important we start off well in tomorrow's match and lots can happen tomorrow that has to do with our future. We've got an important game, in our case. But more than anything, I want the players to give 100% like they usually do. What they can do, for a game like this, for this Champion's League game, is to be champs too. I demand this of my players and tomorrow I expect them to be at a high level. That they be courageous and determined and that they play like they usually do like they’re in a championship game, knowing that the other side is also very powerful. But we don't consider ourselves the favourites because we're not. Both teams are strong. But we also have something we tell ourselves. We are strong at home. And with our people we're a bigger team because our fans also help us immensely. So tomorrow is a big game and I want the team to give 100% like they have done up until now." MARTINS SEATED DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OLYMPIAKOS, COACH PEDRO MARTINS, SAYING: (TRANSLATION VIA OFFICIAL INTERPRETER) "No, these kinds of games and against these kinds of teams, most pay a high price (for a mistake). The team has to be really focused. And when we save goals, it’s not just the defence or goalkeeper. We've allowed very few goals, or one actually so far because everyone is part of the (defensive) process. Everyone is involved, not just the defence, but the offence too. I think in order to get a good result tomorrow, everyone needs to defend and when we have our opportunities, which I believe we will have our moments, the team needs to be efficient. But the defensive process starts with the forwards right down to the goalkeeper, this shows the consistency, focus and commitment the whole group has." MARTINS STANDING UP AND LEAVING
- Embargoed: 1st October 2019 20:14
- Keywords: Greece UK Tottenham Olympiakos training news conference
- Location: PIRAEUS, GREECE
- City: PIRAEUS, GREECE
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AX1R58F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Tuesday (September 17) he needs all his players "ready to fight and ready to play."
Last year's Champions League finalists will kick off their opening Champions League group game against Olympiakos on Wednesday (September 17) at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.
Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs come from a victorious 4-0 win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday (September 14), but go to Piraeus with injuries.
Picking up away points against Olympiakos is vital for them to progress in a Group B which also includes Red Star Belgrade, and Bayern Munich.
The Spurs reached the Champions League final last season losing to Liverpool. The two have not met since the 1972 UEFA Cup second round.
Olympiakos return to Champions League after a season away and were last in the group-stage of the Champions League in 2017.
The Greeks reached the group stages after winning all three of their fixtures against Viktoria Plzen, Istanbul Basaksehir and Krasnodar, and their start in the Greek Super League has also been impressive. Hotspur will also face the boisterous fans in the Georgios Karaiksakis Stadium.
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