The Tottenham Hotspur squad returned to Hotspur Way on Saturday, kicking off their pre-season training. Their first friendly of the summer will be against Cambridge United this Saturday, played behind closed doors.

Most of the Tottenham squad reported for pre-season training over the weekend, undergoing various tests before starting fieldwork on Sunday. Spurs are now transitioning into the next phase of their pre-season development under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

The friendly against Cambridge United will be held at Hotspur Way, giving new signings Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall their first chance to adapt to Postecoglou’s high-intensity approach.

According to football.london, behind-closed-doors friendlies are usually more fragmented than official matches, often divided into three 30-minute segments rather than two halves. This allows different players to receive varied amounts of playing time. The match against Cambridge, a League One side that began their pre-season a week earlier, will serve as a significant fitness test for the Spurs players.

Tottenham’s first pre-season match this week
After facing Cambridge, Tottenham will play Hearts in Scotland on Wednesday, July 17th, and QPR at Loftus Road on Saturday, July 20th. The team will then travel to Japan and South Korea for additional fixtures before returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Bayern Munich on Saturday, August 10th.

Although it is unusual to arrange a friendly so early in pre-season, it aligns with Postecoglou’s preference for high-intensity ball work over traditional fitness and endurance drills. This approach helps players acclimate to match situations quickly, promoting better cohesion and tactical awareness.