Antonio Conte is determined that Tottenham will be title contenders this coming season. You have probably read that he has made several of his players physically sick during harsh training sessions in the intense heat and humid conditions in Seoul, South Korea. Conte’s pre-season training is legend and probably the toughest of any team. After his stars were put through their paces with 42 pitch-long runs and very few rest periods they then played two touch football – two touches and then another run.
The location was the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Dejan Kuluysevski pulled up with a calf problem and the invited watching crowd went very silent as Son Heung-min was also in some discomfort and fell to the ground and had to receive a cold iced towel at the back of his neck. Newly signed Yves Bissouma also went down and super-fit Davinson Sanchez, Bryan Gil and Pape Matar Sarr were among only a handful of players who completed Conte’s training programme under Spur’s fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone. Conte also arranged two eleven versus eleven matches. Conte was the referee and could not stop himself from making the odd tackle and several passes! It gave Richarlison a chance to link up with Kane and Son and he scored two goals. Conte played the 3-4-3 system. Native born Son was cheered every time he touched the ball and at the end of the session he walked over to the 6,000 Koreans who had been watching and thanked them for supporting him. You can hardly enter any street in Seoul without seeing a poster proudly displaying Son’s picture.
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Ten Hag and United do well in Bangkok
The pre-season training match which resulted in Man United 4 Liverpool 0 is not to be taken too seriously because it was all about experimenting with player positions and Jurgen Klopp changed virtually his whole team at half time. The goals came from Jadon Sancho, Fred, Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellestri. Both managers were anxious not to sustain injuries and only David de Gea in United’s goal sustained a muscular problem and Tom Heaton replaced him at half time. Ten Hag chose a 4-2-3-1 formation which he favoured when coaching Ajax and it was also the line-up most used by Ole Gunner Solskjaer. Sancho played on the right, Rashford on the left with Bruno Fernandes operating behind Anthony Martial who was the central striker. What was most notable was the United team playing as one unit, pressing forward with a high defensive line. It worked very well. Sancho particularly caught the eye with a very impressive display.
Raheem passes Chelsea medical, heads for America
Raheem Sterling says that his time at Manchester City had finished as he prepared to fly out to join Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the USA. Sterling, who is still only 27, passed his medical in London on Monday afternoon after the two clubs agreed a £47.5 million deal. Sterling’s contract is for five years with an option of another year. He is getting a rise on his £300k a week deal at City and becomes Chelsea’s biggest wage earner. Chelsea arrived in Los Angeles and Thomas Tuchel said how delighted he is at buying Sterling. He is still hoping to capture City’s Nathan Ake and possibly Matthijs de Ligt, who plays at Juventus. Kalidou Koulibaly arrived in London on Wednesday for a medical and the plan was for him to fly to Los Angeles to join the Blues once all the paperwork is completed. Chelsea and Napoli have agreed a price of £34 million.
Jorginho pledges to Chelsea
Chelsea fans can relax, Jorginho wants to stay at the club. Several Italian clubs were moving to take him back to Serie A for the coming season and the 30 year-old’s contract expires in 12 months. He said he is willing to sign an extended deal with only 12 months left on his current deal. The 30-year-old has been with the Blues since joining from Italian giants Napoli in 2018. Originally he found it difficult to adjust to life at Stamford Bridge but has since gone from strength to strength and has become one of Thomas Tuchel’s first names on the weekly team sheet. He came third in the highly coveted Ballon d’Or this year but don’t worry Blues fans he doesn’t want to be anywhere except west London.
Diop could go to Fulham
Fulham are determined that their latest climb back into the Premier League will not be short lived as with previous seasons. The Cottagers have been in talks with West Ham to sign Issa Diop and £20 million has been discussed although this is higher than Fulham want to pay. The Hammers are attempting to recoup some of the fee they paid to French club Toulouse for the 25 year-old. Diop dropped down the pecking order when Kurt Zouma arrived from Chelsea and now the east London club have signed Nayef Aguerd he is not part of coach David Moyes first team plans.
Fabio Silva’s loan is risky
There are mixed feelings in Wolverhampton as the club prepare to release 20-year-old Fabio Silva on loan to Dutch club Anderlecht. The season long loan will not carry an option to buy and there is no loan fee. Wolves said that prior to signing Fabio two years ago for £35 million he was being highly praised as one of the upcoming young talents in Europe. He has since put in some impressive performances but failed to score a single goal. Coach Bruno Lago hopes Fabio will gain more confidence in the Dutch Eredivisie league and find his scoring touch before returning to Wolves for the 23/24 season. He does however accept the loan is a risk because it could rob the player of his self-confidence if it does not go well. Wolves are currently on a pre-season tour of Spain without Silva.
Leed’s Harrison attracts Newcastle
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is an admirer of Leeds winger Jack Harrison. At present the Baggies have an offer in for Bayer Leverkusen’s Mussa Diaby however many within the club think Harrison would fit better into Howe’s plans for next season. Striker Callum Wilson will probably sign a new improved contract within the next two weeks.
Pereira moves to West Ham
Returning club Fulham have concluded a good piece of business by signing Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira on a four-year contract. He came through the United Old Trafford youth scheme and has cost only £8 millon. He appeared 75 times for United.
Farewell and welcome for Wilshere
I am both pleased and sorry for Jack Wilshere who, after failing to find a new club has retired at the age of only 30 years. He will be the new Arsenal Head Coach for the Under 18s at the Emirates. Jack was an England regular but injuries ruined his career and after failing to impress at several clubs feels his glory days are over. I wish him well because he was always a gifted player and a young nice man.
Palace pre-season tour nightmare
In what has turned out to be a nightmare trip so far, Crystal Palace arrived for their pre-season tour of Australia and Singapore with only eight senior players. I contacted Palace and was told that some players had fitness problems and others were not allowed into Singapore because of the strict Covid vaccination rules which some Palace players failed. Australia have only just ended their Covid restrictions and I understand all players eligible will be able to enter. Among the Palace stars who have not travelled are Marc Guehl, Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Christian Benteke, Will Hughes and Cheikhou Kouyate. They play Manchester United and Leeds in Australia this coming week.
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