Erik Lamela celebrates with Victor Wanyama.PHOTO/Reuters
LONDON, United Kingdom, August 2 – Tottenham Hotspur defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama has admitted to the club’s official website that head coach Mauricio Pochettino has made him and his teammates work hard during pre-season training.
Wanyama made the comments following the North London outfit’s pre-season trip to Australia.
The 25-year-old Kenya international, though, has made it clear that he enjoyed the trip despite having to work hard.
The former Celtic star has also stated that the trip to Australia has allowed him to know his teammates better.
“This trip has been good. I’ve got to know my team-mates and I’ve enjoyed it,” Wanyama told Tottenham’s official website. “I know the gaffer has worked us hard but it’s been great to be here.
“It is important for me to get to know my team-mates better and this trip has helped me do that, that’s how you build relationships and team spirit so it’s been really good for that.
“We can only take positives from this trip. We’ve got some good players here and we’ve played some good football. There are things we can learn from too but we’ll get back on the training ground and work on that.”
Wanyama joined Tottenham from Premier League rivals Southampton in the summer transfer window.
The North London outfit are reportedly going to pay Wanyama a weekly salary of Sh Sh7.3m (£55,000) on a five-year contract.
Wanyama scored one goal and created 15 chances in 30 Premier League appearances for Southampton last season.
The midfielder had a pass accuracy of 82% and a shot accuracy of 21%, and won 64 headers, 23 dribbles and 71 tackles.
Despite losing their two friendly matches against Italian giants Juventus and Spanish titans Atletico Madrid, Wanyama received heaps of praises from his new Tottenham fans.
The former Southampton midfielder fared better on his debut, getting an assist for Erik Lamela’s goal during Spurs 2-1 loss to Juventus.
Wanyama put in an eye catching display in the centre of the field, and Spurs supporters have praised his performance.
Winks and Wanyama are running the midfield incredibly well, they look a nicely balanced partnership in there.
— Chris Miller (@WindyCOYS) July 29, 2016
Can’t judge Janssen because he wasn’t playing with first team players and didn’t get any service. Wanyama had a solid game though.
— Pritch. (@pritch_16) July 26, 2016
#THFC Good: Wanyama, Miller, Lamela, Winks.
Bad: Mason, Ball, Son.
Ugly: Chadli, Carroll.
— Seb Cummings (@sebcummings) July 26, 2016
Wanyama carries on like that he’ll prove me wrong, and good I hope he does
— george (@CoysGeorge) July 26, 2016
2. I thought wanyama was excellent in the holding role. He really warmed into the game #THFC #COYS
— Jarryd Cali (@jabbbbbbbbbbb) July 26, 2016
Good game for Wanyama… Has been solid this game and surprisingly disciplined
— Vita Wanyama (@waweru_jb) July 26, 2016
