Antonio Conte has suggested that the World Cup this winter has only increased the need for clubs like Tottenham to up their activity in the transfer market.
The World Cup is taking place for the first time in November and December this year in Qatar and staging it then means the Premier League season will be split into two sections. Spurs' last league game ahead of the tournament will be on November 12 at home against Leeds before returning to action more than a month later on December 26 at Brentford, with potential Carabao Cup fourth round fixtures played the preceding week.
Ahead of the north London club's league season beginning on Saturday against Southampton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Conte was asked whether the unusual nature of this split campaign could provide an opportunity for Spurs to take advantage of others' problems.
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His answer suggested the need for more transfers this summer for clubs like Tottenham and perhaps also in the January window as the fallout of the World Cup with injuries and fatigue becomes clear. On top of that a new rule in the Premier League means teams can use five substitutes from a bench of nine players, meaning stronger squads are necessary.
"The problems are for all the teams. The same problems for Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, United, Arsenal, West Ham and Nottingham Forest, the last team [to arrive] in the Premier League. We all have the same problems and we have to be ready to face these problems," he said.
"For every coach and manager, it will be the first time this situation interrupts the league and to lose players for one month and a half, and then to restart the competition with the players, where you don't know in the way they'll come back after the World Cup.
"For this reason, it'll be very important to have a strong squad, the number of the players I think every club has to give the coach the opportunity to have an important number of players in the squad. For injuries, for fatigue. For a lot of situations, it will be very difficult for every team and club this season."
There has also been the suggestion that as the World Cup draws closer some players may have that in the back of their minds in November as they look to avoid injury. Conte does not believe that will be a problem for his Tottenham squad as they seek a big season with the club.
"Honestly, I don't care about that. When you go to play a game and you want to win, you don't think you could be injured or you risk injury and can't play in a World Cup. Honestly," he said.
"The players are really focused to go step by step and go game by game. For us, we have three important trophies in England and then to play an important competition in the Champions League.
"I know my players, their desire and their will, and [I know] also what we did to reach this achievement. Honestly I'm not worried about this situation."
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