Following three low profile friendly matches at their Enfield training ground against Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Rotherham United respectively, Tottenham Hotspur get their official pre-season off to a difficult looking start against Italian giants Juventus on Tuesday. 

In a four team group for the Australian leg of the International Champions Cup, a friendly tournament played around the world involving some of the games most successful sides, Juventus have already faced off against local side Melbourne Victory, suffering a penalty shoot out defeat.

Mauricio Pochettino then faces up against former international teammate Diego Simeone when Tottenham play Atlético Madrid in their final match in Australia on Friday morning.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri will hope to end their Australian trip with a positive result, putting any uncertainty following their shock defeat to Melbourne Victory to bed, before they make the short trip to Hong Kong where they will face local side South China on Saturday.

Pochettino instructs his Spurs players at an open training session on Monday (photo: THFC.com)
Pochettino instructs his Spurs players at an open training session on Monday (photo: THFC.com)

Team News

Both sides have had to rely heavily on their development sides ahead of the exiting looking contest. With Euro 2016 finishing two weeks ago, many players from each side are still recovering from their prolonged campaign last time around.

Juventus have made the trip without the key defensive trio of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli along with club captain, and legendary goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.

With much speculation continuing to surround Paul Pogba, ahead of a rumoured world record transfer to former club Manchester United, the side from Turin are likely to give former AS Roma man Miralem Pjanić his first start for the club, along with recent acquisition Medhi Benatia.

In comparison, Tottenham have made the long trip without any of their representatives at the recent European Championship in France. Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker all recently returned to training but the trip was seen as too soon.

Ben Davies and Hugo Lloris, two of their respective nations hero’s in France, will have received further time off as Tottenham look to a number of their youngsters in Melbourne. 

With Clinton N’Jie reportedly close to a move to Olympique de Marseille, and Alex Pritchard, Nabil Bentaleb and Federico Fazio all deemed surplus to requirements, Pochettino has taken the opportunity to look at returning loanees Dominic Ball and DeAndre Yedlin, who impressed at Glasgow Rangers and Sunderland respectively last season.

The trip could see Spurs fans catch a first official glimpse of recent signings Vincent Janssen and Victor Wanyama following their summer moves from AZ Alkmaar and Southampton respectively.

Fitness over results

Following their match against Atlético Madrid on Friday, Tottenham then face Internazionale in Norway a week before their season opener against Everton on the 13th August.

As much as winning continues to remain of the upmost importance to many of the players, Pochettino and his coaching side will be far more concerned with picking where his side left off last season, with their high pressing game once again the main focus.

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