Trip Down Under leaves Wanyama feeling right at home
Though Tottenham Hotspur lost both matches on their trip to Melbourne, new signing Victor Wanyama believes the 21,000-mile round-trip was worthwhile – for him at least.
A Spurs squad, missing its Euro 2016 representatives, lost 2-1 to Juventus and 1-0 to Atletico Madrid at an empty Melbourne Cricket Ground.
But Wanyama, an £11million signing from Southampton, feels there is no better way to gel with so many new team-mates than on such an excursion.
“This trip has been good – I’ve got to know my team-mates and I’ve enjoyed it,” said the 25-year-old.
Victor Wanyama with his new Tottenham Hotspur team-mates in Melbourne. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
“I know the gaffer has worked us hard but it’s been great to be here.
“It is important for me to get to know my team-mates better and this trip has helped me do that – that’s how you build relationships and team spirit, so it’s been really good for that.
“We can only take positives from this trip – we’ve got some good players here and we’ve played some good football.
“There are things we can learn from too, but we’ll get back on the training ground and work on that.”
Spurs play their final pre-season friendly against Inter Milan in Oslo on Friday before kicking off the new Premier League campaign away at Everton on August 13.