Tottenham Hotspur full-back Kieran Trippier has revealed that Mauricio Pochettino's gruelling training regime helped him to get into the best shape of his life.
The 27-year-old has starred in the absence of Kyle Walker in North London this season, doing enough to earn another call-up to the England squad for games against Germany and Brazil.
Trippier admits that he took time to hit the high standards set by Pochettino when arriving at Spurs from Burnley in 2015, however, having been made to wait six months for his first Premier League start.
"I thought I was in good shape," The Mirror quotes him as saying. "When I was at Burnley and we got our body fat done, I had a really good percentage. Sean Dyche was happy. I went to Tottenham and I was well high [in body fat] — I think they pinch you tougher at Tottenham, unless it was my all-inclusive holiday in Mexico and the mojitos!
"It turns out I wasn't in the best shape when I came to Tottenham and the manager let me know that. He told me that and within six months of getting there I was in great condition. It's really intense. It's relentless really, how much stuff we do. The structure is set out perfectly, whether it's in the gym, running — sometimes double sessions.
"Every player at Tottenham is in great shape. I used to enjoy myself with my missus and friends but because we are playing Saturday-Tuesday or Wednesday-Sunday, with the intensity we play at, we can't afford to have a night out."
Trippier has set up six goals in 10 Premier League and Champions League outings this term, including a key assist for Dele Alli's opener against Real Madrid last week.
Daniel Lewis
