Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Toby Alderweireld has admitted that Spurs have two weeks to improve ahead of the new season following their 3-0 friendly defeat to Manchester City.
Mauricio Pochettino's side appeared some way behind their Premier League rivals during the defeat in Nashville, but Alderweireld has since insisted that the loss will ensure that his side reach the required levels before the new season gets underway.
"We've had a tough week of training hard, but the quality has to be better and we all know that," the defender told the club's official website.
"That's why you play in pre-season. We don't think 'it's pre-season, we don't care' – we do care. We now have two weeks to improve ourselves, to get to the level we were at last season and become even better.
"You don't want to lose, of course, but we will learn and improve."
Spurs open their new Premier League campaign when they travel to face Newcastle United on August 13.
Christopher Dodd
