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What an amazing season you had again. Back to back seasons challenging for the title, but was the final reflection of disappointment?

Of course you are disappointed because you are ambitious and you want to win but I think we need to take the positive things. For the second season we challenged again to try to win the Premier League. And why not next season again? I think we are ready.

The team is settled, we are excited. It is true that it is another challenge too to make Wembley our home and feel like home and try to change the perception for our fans and for everyone. But I think we are excited and very positive about next season.

Is the Wembley factor, since you raised it, one of the biggest challenges for Tottenham this season?

I think it will be a massive challenge to change that perception because last season was so difficult to share with White Hart Lane for the different games and sometimes it was a little bit of an easy excuse that because it is Wembley, we could not play in the same way that we play at White Hart Lane.

Today I think the players and our fans know that we need to move there and play every single game at home, at Wembley, and that I think is a massive change in our mind and for us and for our fans. And I think it was a very good test for us last Saturday against Juventus.

First of all for the team and then for the fans to see that Wembley is fantastic and can be magic for us. And that is now our challenge: to try make sure that Wembley will be magic for us and bring some good news.

The spending has been incredible in the Premier League this summer: £1bn. The last I looked, Spurs have spent £0. How would you reflect on the summer so far?

I think it is so clear at Tottenham that the last few years have had a clear philosophy. In Tottenham in the history - if you see in the last five years - . It is so difficult when you have a very good team and at a club like Tottenham you have a very clear philosophy and a plan that you want to follow, it is not easy to find right footballer.

I think we are working and we'll add some players to the end of the transfer window. We need to bring some new energy and strengthen our squad. I think everyone knows that - and first of all our chairman, Daniel [Levy], knows that.

He's working hard with the chief scout Steve [Hitchen] and we are working hard too to deliver it and to add and strengthen to the team that we need to fight for competitions next season.

I asked Antonio Conte before, I said I thought it was strange, the transfer of Matic to Manchester United.

But with Kyle Walker to Manchester City, was the price just too good? £50m for a right back, a basic right back.

I think today when you see the market it is a price that can surprise us but I think it is the evolution of football. You cannot stop it. Then, for me, it is about the offer and it is not about the buyer that you can give or not - it's about another club who want to offer for your player or you want to offer to another club to get some players.

But for me, I think if the market is true then maybe it's a little bit crazy but you cannot stop that evolution.

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But your players seem so established, Mauricio, as well. You first team, everyone could name them. It's such a strong side. Is it actually quite hard to improve that team?

It is true that it is difficult to improve but we need to bring players that can challenge our starting XI and the players that all of you know have more possibility to play on the Saturday. Yes, it is a difficult, difficult, difficult job but at the end we will find the right players to challenge us.

Over the last two or three seasons, you've changed the way in which we see Tottenham. Tottenham, historically, have always been a club that weren't very tough, they weren't good defensively - but you've installed an idea into the team that's absolutely brilliant.

I'm just going to show you some clips from before that we went through with Jan Vertonghen and talking about the style of play. In terms of the back four and the challenge, I think, of particularly at Wembley, will it be different for you this season in terms of the back four pushing up because the compactness is always really good in your team?

Yes and I am not so happy with the behaviour of the back four [here].

You don't like it?

No. It's good but for me, in that situation, our back four need to be higher. But I understand sometimes on the pitch for a player it is so difficult to manage the space in behind. But I think that we work so hard to try to push high.

Of course we work with a lot with our goalkeeper coach and our goalkeeper to try and stay higher in that position that helps the defensive line. Our mentality is always to have the ball in possession and to try and make it difficult for the opponent.

With a good position, with a good body shape, I think always if you work in 25-30 metres, you are compact and it is so difficult for the opponent to try to find the ball in behind if your keeper is ready to help you. But I am not happy with this line.

Too deep?

Here, yes. For me, the midfielder needs to stay here.

Where would you like them? The ball's here.

Yes I think it is good pressure from Harry [Kane] to try to push him to play long. I think it is important. It is so difficult for the striker when the defensive line pushes to stay far from the goal and you see the goal is 40 metres or 50 metres, it is so difficult for them.

But always try to tell the defensive line that they need to manage because the most important thing is how you manage the space and the areas. It is not about the striker or the offensive player because if not then you are in behind them and when you play a zonal game, you are a unit but you need to be proactive for that.

Your team is definitely the best in the league in terms of that distance. There's no doubt about that. Obviously, we watch all the games.

How often do you work on that on the training ground? Say, the distance between Harry Kane and Vertonghen and Alderweireld?

Yes we try to work a lot, like all the managers try to improve every single situation that happens on the pitch. We try to give them the tools and try to improve but at the same time, you prioritise different things during the week.

Sometimes you need to prioritise the physical condition, sometimes tactical - in possession, out of possession - I think it's about a good balance to provide the team with a very good balance.

Your first 11 is fantastic in terms of the way in which the team play. What areas of the squad do you think could improve this team you have? What areas will you look at in the next few weeks?

I think we need players that challenge our players and our starting XI. I think we have youngsters through the academy that are pushing a lot and we are so excited. We have players who are 19, 18, 17-years-old that can put pressure on our players. And now we need some players that believe in themselves and say 'If I am a player who is offensive, I can challenge Dele Alli, I can challenge Harry Kane'.

I think the good example is in goals. We have, I think, one of the three best keepers in the world but Michel Vorm behind is pushing a lot and all [Lloris'] success is because Michel Vorm is pushing every day.

How hard is it to push someone like Harry Kane? You're asking a striker to come where he's not going to play. That's been the problem, hasn't it?

No I think this is almost as important because Harry Kane knows very well that when he was behind Soldado, or Adebayor, he knows very well what happens when, in a moment, you have no focus. If you have in behind another who is pushing, if you don't give your best then maybe...

And he knows that his manager is about the performance not only in the game but during the week. And that is important, the players that combine to add to the squad know that if they are better and challenge and deserve to play then they play.

It is true that it is difficult now that you cannot guarantee to the player that they play when they sign but you can guarantee that your provide good tools to challenge our players.

The work you've done at Southampton and Tottenham is outstanding work, but you've also promoted young English players and you've also taken chances, you've put belief into young players.

What is your idea on that? Because I think it is a frustration of many that young players don't get a chance - but under you, they do get a chance.

Yes for me when I started my career at Newell's Old Boys and I met people like Marcelo Bielsa who believe a lot in the youngsters. It always was my idea when I was growing up and building my career as a player and the moment I thought to be a manager.

I think it is important to pay back all that people gave you and for me it is important to provide young players, young talent with the possibility to challenge and to compete with the first team. I am not scared to give them the responsibility if they show me they are ready and are mature enough.

And for me, I am so happy when five years ago when I came to England I found in Southampton an amazing team, amazing people and young English players with a lot talent. Like Luke Shaw, like Clyne, like Lallana, like Jay Rodriguez, like Prowsey (James Ward-Prowse), many, many, many players - Chambers after - that show they are hungry to show the quality and play. And I think it was an amazing job there.

I always remember with love that moment because it was key in my career because after Espanyol I went to Southampton and I think the English players were fantastic because they help us to improve a lot as a manager. We keep in contact now with everyone.

For me, it was fantastic to meet the English because the perception outside was completely different and you were right here to say 'the talent is amazing'. You have a big talent - like Spain, like Argentina, like Brazil - only you need to give the belief and faith in that they can show the real quality. With that you can see now the success of the U17, the U19 and U21s - and it is fantastic now.

It is warming to hear that. Do you have the names of one or two players at Tottenham that you think could challenge this season?

Younger [players]?

Yes, the younger ones.

Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Any names?

No because I think that it is big, big pressure on the player after. Maybe you can help them or do a little bit of damage to the possibility if you put too much pressure on them.

Can you win the league?

Of course. That is our dream. I am very positive always. I am so excited to start again the season that we have ahead. There are many challenges - not only to win but to play at Wembley.

And I am so excited to start again. I think it was fantastic the result against Juventus and I now I think we are ready to start and compete next Sunday against Newcastle. A big, tough game.