We bought very, very good players but you can’t just build the team with the names like in Football Manager.

On why Gallagher started ahead of Mateus Fernandes:

You know, I have experience enough to know what this stadium is. This stadium is English football, and Gallagher, he knows better this type of games. Mateus [Fernandes] will become, for sure, in my time in Tottenham, one of the best players.

But I’m lucky because I have more players, many players, and I have to find the right balance, the right first XI, if I can, before the game.

What was missing in the final third?

I think we played well but in the last third we have to improve. We have to take the better decisions. We have to keep more calm when we are very close to doing something important in the last third.

I remember the chance when Marmoush shot at goal [in the second half], the way we had Robertson overlapping. If we take the right decision and we play with Robertson, then on the second post there is Kudus to score like this.

Or how many crosses went over the second post? From Mathys Tel, two times, Savio, one time. Savio I think it’s the last decision. The ball from Pedro Porro on Mateus Fernandes when he played in Kudus and then for the header of Solanke, Mateus was completely alone to go forward to score [instead].

How pleased were you with the performance overall?

I’m very happy for the spirit of the team, for the organisation, with and without the ball. We didn’t suffer nothing. They have good players and taking points in this stadium is not so easy.

We are not happy because we didn’t win, but I think this is the right spirit and the right way to move on in this moment. Because we started just last Thursday to work [all] together and to create, to build the team, to build the organisation. It’s not enough the paper, the transfer market.

On Mykhailo Mudryk and his current condition:

He’s not ready yet. He’s working to reach the best physical condition. He needs time, he needs work.

In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential. But also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk. So, two big players, two big potential players.

But if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals. Solanke, the header for him, I consider a chance to score. It’s not a shot on goal. But how many shots did Nottingham have today?

How can you coach the attacking group into producing the free-flowing football you had at Brighton?

Meeting, watching, analysing together with the players. Also, I think, winning the games, because, you know, the confidence, the enthusiasm, it can be crucial to find the right decision.

But I love these players. I spoke now about Marmoush. But Marmoush, we have to analyse if he has, or not, 15, 12 goals. I think, yes, because he has all the qualities, enough to score that number of goals. He has to improve, of course. Like Domi Solanke, I think if Domi is fit, is in the best physical condition, the chance he had was completely different.

And on Savio and Udogie’s planned substitutions:

Before the game the plan for Savio and Udogie was around 60 minutes. I’m not happy but football is like this, Savio not in the best physical condition to play 90 mins, he’s a crucial player for us.

Destiny is another crucial player. Kudus and Robertson played well but to start one game like today is not so easy to come inside from the bench and adapt immediately.

I’m not happy when we have the plan but it’s not my business, the management of players after injuries.