Fri 14 May 2021, 13:45
Tottenham HotspurWe're on the home straight of the 2020/21 campaign, three matches to go, and Ryan Mason looks ahead to Sunday's Premier League encounter against Wolves at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (2.05pm).
1 - Team news
Ben Davies remains the only player sidelined, and Ryan gave an update on his fitness on Friday…
Ryan: “Ben is the only player who hasn’t trained (with the group), I’ll be honest, I’ll be surprised if he’s in contention for any of our remaining three fixtures. He was out on the training pitch today doing some individual work and hopefully he’ll progress over the next few days and next week. It’s too early to make a decision on the Euros but I’m sure Ben feels confident about that. We just know because he’s been out for such a long time that it’s not realistic to expect or think that he will return to training and will be playing for us in the next 10 days.”
2 - Crunch time
There are nine points between Arsenal, now a point behind us in ninth, and Chelsea in fourth, and just five between Arsenal (55) and Liverpool in fifth (60) - with three matches remaining, is Ryan looking at all the permutations himself?
Ryan: “I can’t, I really can’t. I know the importance of finishing above certain other teams when you play for this football club, but as a club, we have to try to win as many games as possible and then see where we finish up. Wolves is a big game, I’ve said all along, in the Premier League, you can’t look past teams and can’t predict, it’s difficult to win games. This weekend, it’s all about three points.”
3 - Wolves
Wolves come to N17 with one defeat in five in the Premier League - what does Ryan make of Sunday’s opponents?
Ryan: “They are a very good team, young, exciting players and what you probably find when you have a lot of young players, sometimes you’ll find inconsistency but, on their day, they are a very good side and they have proved that in the last couple of seasons in the Premier League. We have to be fully prepared and fully focussed and respect them as a team to win the game.”
4 - Back home
We’ve picked up wins in Ryan’s two home games, does that instill confidence as we return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for two games in four days, Wolves then Villa?
Ryan: “We have to create a mindset of confidence, belief and at home, we have fans coming back next week (10,000 for Villa on Wednesday), and that has to be another driving point, to go into that game off the back of a good result and create that good feeling around the club.”
5 - Motivation
With the chances of making the top four now slim, we asked if Ryan’s biggest test was to keep the players going for the final three matches of the season?
Ryan: “I can speak honestly, there is nothing there in terms of having to motivate the players. We’ve played 55 games this season, but when you play for this football club, that’s what comes with it. There is a good group of professionals, some really good players, a big squad and they love playing for this football club. They are saddened by where we are, and they know the importance of the weekend and the importance of our next three games. There is nothing in terms of motivating the players. I don’t need to motivate them, I just need to try to help them, give them confidence, give them structure and belief that a certain way can win a game of football, but in terms of motivation, when you play for Tottenham Hotspur, no, I don’t need to motivate players at all.”
