Spurs v Leeds - Conte's Pre-Match Press Conference + Predictions

Conte came across happy, comfortable and confident ahead of his first Premier League Home match as Spurs boss. He didn’t rush his answers, was respectful of the journalists and shared the odd laugh here and there. Dead serious and convincing when focusing on his intentions at the club though.

Alasdair Gold mentioned his piercing blue eyes and how they're almost 'alien'. They sound pretty hypnotising and I can imagine that helps when getting his messages across to the players.

• Question 1 – How happy are you with what you've been able to do over the last couple of weeks with the players who did stay behind, and how impressed have you been with the form of the International players who went away? Lots of goals scored by them, obviously the ketchup and mayonnaise ban's working already.

- Good, intensive work with the players who were there. - Focusing on improving how we play on the pitch, tactically, physically and mentally. - Some of the Internationals returned on Wednesday. All of the players together on Thursday.

• Question 2 – Ian Abrahams – Can we have team news?

- Romero is out injured. He needs another scan in 7 to 10 days to find out his recovery time. - Lo Celso didn't come back 100%. Not sure about him at the moment. - The rest of the team should be available.

• Question 3 – Ian Abrahams – Harry Kane scored 7 goals in two games, not against great opposition, but still 7 goals, so his confidence will be high. How much are you hoping now that Harry Kane's season starts on Sunday for Tottenham and these goals make sure that he can kick-on and be confident for Tottenham Hotspur?

- It's never easy to score. Happy for him and that his team have qualified for the World Cup. - Fantastic to work with Kane. Already seen that he is a top player who's willing to train very hard to improve. - His first task is to try to improve his players to the next level and there are many players in the team that are capable of doing that.

• Question 4 – Jake Robson – You spoke about a sense of wanting everyone at the club to have a sense of belonging, you mentioned all of the staff there. You've only been at the club a few weeks, so how long will it take you to feel that sense of belonging?

- Not easy to know everyone in just 2 or 3 weeks but all positive so far. - The staff are all part of the Tottenham project. They can help add points in the table. Everyone must be involved and feel important. Everyone's heart has to be in it. That is the sense of belonging and it transfers to our supporters and to our players during the game.

• Question 5 – Simon Stone – Your first game your team attacked very well, didn't defend so well. Your second game, team defended well and didn't attack so well. Getting the balance is right but which is the key element attack or defence?

- Have to find the right balance. The team has to be stable and have good results for a long time. Ups and down are not good. - Didn't work with the players much before those first two games. - Liked the desire shown against Everton. - Have to improve now through his work. Both offensively and defensively. - Doesn't like arriving at a new club mid-season but the opportunity to be the Tottenham coach changed his plan and now he's happy. - Working very hard to improve as fast as possible. Time is needed. Happy to see great ability in the players because that helps reduce the time it takes to get his ideas across.

• Question 6 – Jerry Cox – Have you had chance to speak to all of the players on a one-to-one basis and what sort of response have you got from them so far?

- Tries to have one-on-ones with all of the players. Wants to know each of them in every aspect. - Has found the players to have a great will to work and try to do something special for this club. - Needs time because it's a young team. On one hand that means maybe we don't have the right experience, but on the other, as young players if they work hard they can all improve together.

• Question 7 – Charlie Eccleshare – Oliver Skipp's made a very positive impression and is suspended for the weekend, how does that change the balance of the midfield?

- Two possibilities to replace him. - Hopes to have Hojbjerg with the team on Thursday because he was injured last week and didn’t work. - Then it's between 'Winky' and Ndombele.

• Question 8 – Alasdair Gold – About Tanguy, you've had these two weeks to work with him, he's a player who's very talented but maybe hasn't fulfilled his potential at Tottenham yet. How do you make him reach that potential and also where do you see as his best position on the pitch?

- Has seen that many managers have struggled to work with him - For sure Tanguy has the quality but he has to understand that there is a team. He has to play into the team. - It's important to do what the position asks him to do. - Has to work much more than the others because he has the talent, but has to use that talent for the best of the team, not just for the individual. - In his ideas there are tasks for every single player and they all have to know what they have to do. Otherwise players will run around the pitch in a mess.

* Comments Consensus – Full of support for Conte. Plenty of belief and excitement. Spurs back on the up?

* Predictions – I'd like to see Rodon and Ndombele in for Romero and Skipp, but I think he'll go for Sanchez and Winks. Predicted Line-up – Lloris, Davies, Dier, Sánchez, Reguilón, Royal, Højbjerg, Winks, Moura, Son, Kane.

We know Leeds can be a dangerous but they haven't been effective so far winning just 2 in 11. I think Conte will have had enough of an influence on the players already to help them step it up a gear and start strong – 3-1 Spurs.