Antonio Conte has explained why Eric Dier's return to his Tottenham Hotspur team this weekend is so crucial.
The 28-year-old is available for selection after a thigh injury which has seen him play just one match since New Year's Day.
Spurs have leaked goals in recent matches without Dier and his return comes just as the north London club prepare to take on the runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.
"This is good news and important news for us, as you know very well Eric Dier is an important player for us as he has a strong personality, good quality and is strong physically," explained Conte.
"He is an important player for me. Tomorrow for the second time since I arrived in the league they are going to play together, Eric Dier and Cristian Romero.
"For one reason or another they were not able to start together. Tomorrow it will be a good game also because the game is difficult and we need Eric to play and also Cristian."
Conte admitted that Spurs were set to travel up to Manchester by coach on Friday afternoon due to Storm Eunice as it was impossible to take their scheduled flight from Stansted Airport.
At the end of their long journey up the country lies Pep Guardiola's side, who have only lost twice in the Premier League this season - one of which was to Spurs on the opening weekend of the season when Nuno Espirito Santo was in charge.
"For sure when you play against Manchester City you have to know that you will concede ball possession and normally they will finish the game with 65, 70, 75% of possession," said Conte.
"For sure they are working for many years together and there are a lot of players with great quality. Also because to have possession, it is important to have players with the quality of personality and they are working in a fantastic way.
"We want to try to have a good game. You have to know that you have to be available and sacrifice tomorrow with all the players, without the ball, but at the same time you have to have a plan when you have the ball to hurt them.
"I think we have studied Manchester City very well. For sure for a big part of the match we will have to defend but at the same time you have to be humble that you have to play a game and play great attention as they are in fantastic form.
"They won the last game 5-0 and they won the previous two games 4-0.
"They have the best defender and we are talking, I repeat, about a fantastic team. In the same way we want to play our game and try to get the best result as possible."
