"I am more than happy if they leave and we play with the U23s. It's not a problem, I promise you. Not a problem for me."
Friday 31 August 2018 23:42, UK
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says he would have been fine with losing any one of his players during the transfer window.
Spurs kept their squad together as the transfer window shut across Europe on Friday following speculation that Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele could exit the club.
Pochettino has grown tired over the summer of speaking about those three players in particular and embarked on several monologues about the situation, citing any player could leave if they wished.
He has had his final say on the matter, suggesting that he would have been fine if all his players left.
Asked about Alderweireld's situation, Pochettino said: "Harry Kane is here, Dele Alli is here, [Victor] Wanyama is here, [Eric] Dier is here, [Fernando] Llorente is here, Alderweireld is here.
"I don't understand why you focus only on some names.
"Maybe you have some information I don't have. Or better relations with me than someone.
"I don't understand rumours about, you know, transfer window closing. It's not a problem if we lose one or two or three. Because we have plenty of players in the academy, no problem.
"I am more than happy. I am more than happy to keep all the players and I am more than happy if they leave and we play with the U23s.
"It's not a problem, I promise you. Not a problem for me."
Pochettino was in a better mood when discussing their stadium situation and will not allow his team to become "victims of circumstances".
Spurs were due to move into their brand new home in September, but issues with "critical safety systems" have meant they have had to return to Wembley for at least two extra Premier League games and a Champions League encounter.
That has not cured all of their problems as they still do not have a venue for their clash with Manchester City while Spurs announced they have applied to play their Carabao Cup game with Watford at Stadium MK as the national stadium is unavailable on both days.
Pochettino's men have not let the uncertainty affect them as they have won their first three Premier League games, including a 3-0 thumping of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday.
The Spurs boss hopes the unsettled situation can galvanise his squad.
"The good thing is that we are so positive in the approach and everything that happens," he said ahead of Sunday's trip to Watford.
"We are working a lot on being positive rather than being negative on the new things that appear.
"We are trying to be positive and to create a challenge. We are going to play in another different venue - it's a challenge for us. Come on.
"If we are going to be a victim of the circumstances, we are going to lose. The only way to succeed is to fight."
