Rarely has the mood around Tottenham Hotspur been so positive ahead of a new Premier League season.
Fresh from securing a return to the Champions League – and pipping north London rivals Arsenal in the process – Spurs have convinced Antonio Conte to stay, brought in six new players and can prepare for the upcoming campaign free from the stresses of last year’s Harry Kane transfer saga.
Spurs fans who have grown well accustomed to disappointment may disagree, but Conte’s squad has been tipped by some to end the club’s trophy drought (which extends to 2008) and perhaps even challenge Manchester City and Liverpool for the league title.
With Kane and Son Heung-min at the very peak of their powers and Conte at the helm, it is shaping up to be a pivotal campaign for the club.
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So will this be the year that they finally take the next step? Here are five key takeaways from pre-season:
Conte got what he asked for
The manager’s future was a running theme throughout last season before the Italian confirmed he would remain in charge after being given assurances about Spurs’ plans this summer.
Those plans have so far delivered six new faces – Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Clement Lenglet and Died Spence – with the possibility of more to come.
And crucially as far as Conte is concerned, those players have arrived well ahead of the new campaign and not after another round of last-minute deals that have become all too familiar to Spurs supporters.
Players will not forget this first pre-season under Conte
The sight of several players collapsing to the floor after a gruelling open training session in South Korea confirmed Conte’s pre-season regime is not for the faint-hearted.
Kane was reportedly among the players left feeling sick after a series of demanding running drills while Son had to be helped to his feet by his strike partner and a member of Conte’s coaching staff.
The manager is well known for his demanding approach to all aspects of the game – and the look on the players’ faces during that session confirmed he is not about to ease up.
Kane’s 12-month turnaround
This time last year the striker was pushing for a move to Manchester City after growing frustrated at the club’s lack of progress.
Twelves months on and the striker has been delivering a very different kind of message, speaking positively about the new recruits and the direction that the club is now taking with Conte at the helm.
Kane saw out the end of last season with five goals in his last five Premier League appearances – and he has carried on where he left off in pre-season with five goals in three games.
Two of those goals came in the 2-1 win at Rangers, both assisted by Son. Some things never change.
Promising signs from Richarlison
As a £60 million signing, the former Everton forward would be expected to impress and after making two starts and one substitute appearance, the Brazilian has offered glimpses of the qualities that made him a Conte target.
The 25-year-old adds to the manager’s options across the front line, but will know he cannot expect to be given an easy route into the starting line-up.
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During pre-season, Richarlison has interchanged with Dejan Kulusevski whose form last season was a major factor in the push for fourth spot.
And it doesn’t help the South American’s hopes of making an early impact that he is suspended for the opening day home clash with Southampton.
Squad depth key to Spurs’ prospects
Conte has no shortage of ambition – and the manager will believe he is close to having the numbers he needs to compete.
The influx of new signings and the summer preparations suggest the Italian now has cover in key positions that means his side can cope with the additional demands of the Champions League.
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