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Andy Robertson has revealed the intense travel, jet lag and tactical workload Tottenham’s squad has faced under Roberto De Zerbi during their pre-season tour. Tottenham Hotspur defender Andy Robertson has provided an honest assessment of the grueling physical and mental demands placed on the squad during their pre-season tour of Australasia. In comments shared by journalist Gary Ward on X, the experienced defender revealed the scale of jet lag the players faced alongside the rigorous tactical instructions being implemented by head coach Roberto De Zerbi. Reflecting on the early stages of the international tour, Robertson admitted that adapting to the drastic time zone differences presented a unique physical challenge for the entire squad: “Jet lag has been something I’ve never had like that before, that’s for sure. We were 11 hours ahead in New Zealand and nine hours ahead in Australia, so we needed a couple of days to adapt.” Crossing multiple continents in a short timeframe required medical staff and players to carefully manage sleep schedules and recovery protocols to ensure the group could maintain high-intensity training despite the severe disruption. Double Sessions and De Zerbi’s Tactical Imprint Beyond the logistical hurdles of travel, Robertson emphasized that De Zerbi and his coaching staff have maintained uncompromising standards during daily work at the training base: “We’ve also been doing long days. In the meeting room, the manager is trying to drill home what he wants us to do and how he wants us to play. We’ve been long hours on the pitch. That’s what you need to do in pre-season.” The Italian manager’s meticulous focus on build-up patterns, defensive positioning, and high-pressing triggers has required extensive classroom analysis combined with repetitive tactical drills on the grass, leaving little downtime for the squad as they absorb De Zerbi’s tactical framework. The combination of long travel hours and double sessions inevitably impacted the team’s physical sharpness during tour matches, but Robertson insisted that working through heavy legs is an essential step in preparing for the Premier League season: “When it comes to the game, you’re probably a little bit leggy and a little bit mentally tired as well, but we had to get through it and I think we did. I don’t think it was the prettiest and probably not the greatest of games, but it will stand us in good stead.” With the start of the Premier League campaign approaching, the Scottish defender remains confident that the physical resilience and tactical clarity forged during these demanding summer weeks will give Tottenham a distinct competitive advantage when official action resumes.