Photo: TVSEI / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi said his young players performed very well in Sunday's 2-0 pre-season win over Auckland FC at Eden Park, New Zealand.
"We have to play seriously, first of all, because when we play for this club or when we work for this club we have to work in the best way we can," De Zerbi said. "The young players played very, very well, especially in the first half, with a clear idea, with the right spirit, with the right qualities as well."
The second half saw senior players introduced, including Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher, Ben Davies, Richarlison and Mathys Tel. De Zerbi noted that no injuries were sustained, describing that as "big news, important news, especially for the beginning of the season."
On James Maddison's absence, De Zerbi confirmed the midfielder has not trained for around five days, along with Udogie, but played down concerns. He suggested both could feature in the next friendly against Sydney, potentially alongside new signing Sandro Tonali.
De Zerbi was asked about Archie Gray's position heading into the new season, with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence returning late from the World Cup. The Italian said Gray can play at right-back, left-back or in midfield, calling him "a smart player" who is "improving his knowledge on the pitch."
On the transfer window, De Zerbi indicated business is not yet complete. "I think we can be happier at the end of this transfer market because I spoke a lot of time with the owner, with the board and they want to build a very strong team for this season for sure," he said.
The match drew a record crowd for a men's football match in New Zealand. Spurs now travel to Australia to continue their pre-season preparations.