Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to build on from their tremendous last season display where they went neck-to-neck with eventual winner Leicester for most of the campaign, before choking right at the end. The team was gutted, to put it mildly, and their mindset was illustrated through the ill-tempered showdown against Chelsea, which was more of a wrestling match to be precise. But the season would have been a huge learning curve for the inexperienced but hugely talented set of players.
The core of the Spurs team is English and the players would have experienced a humbling experience in the Euros with their National team and they would be eager to put the nightmare behind them and kick-start the season under The Sherriff (this is what Pochettino was known as in his earlier days!). Tottenham have been fairly quiet this transfer window with early acquisitions of Victor Wanyama and Vincent Janssen. The latter has been an important recruit, more so because of the number of games Tottenham will be playing this season, it would have been impossible for Kane to cope up on his own. The England youngster has an unquenchable thirst of playing all the matches but the team management will look to use him wisely this season.
What will be crucial for the Spurs side this season will be their ability to cope with the pressure of the Champions League and manage their team during the hectic schedules the season will throw up.
TEAM NEWS AND PREDICTED LINE-UP
Jan Vertonghen is back in training and will look to be match fit for the opening game of their season. Son is unavailable as he is representing South Korea in the Olympics. Dembele is banned as he is yet to serve his remaining four matches of suspension carried over from last season.
Pochettino favours the 4-2-3-1 system and will start off similarly.
DEFENCE
Hugo Lloris will start in goal and will look to shrug off the disappointment of the Euro 2016 final loss to Portugal. Kyle Walker will be at right-back and Danny Rose on the opposite side with Trippier and Davies looking to keep them on their toes. Jan Vertonghen will partner Alderweireld if he is able to get ready in time. Kevin Wimmer will be on stand-by in case he misses out.
MIDFIELD
Victor Wanyama will make his debut alongside Eric Dier in the double pivot with Dembele injured. Ryan Mason represents another option. Delle Alli will take up the No.10 spot he excelled in last season.
ATTACK
Eriksen and Lamela will take up their positions on the left and right flank respectively while Harry Kane will lead the line. Janssen will most probably have to wait for his debut later in the match.
