Jose Mourinho knows Tottenham must hit the ground running as a manic start to the new season begins with Sunday’s match against Everton.

With Spurs entering the Europa League in the qualifying rounds, Mourinho’s men could potentially have nine fixtures scheduled across three competitions before next month’s international break.

Yet the coach is determined to maintain a challenge on all fronts, even if the thought of putting his squad through such a gruelling stretch is a painful one.

“If I think too much about it, I don’t know how to answer and I will get depressed,” Mourinho said. “I don’t want to get depressed. I want to go to the match with a smile and be positive.

“I had a challenge with my boys: who can play all nine matches for 90 minutes? No one said ‘I can’.

“It’s a big risk in terms of our ambitions – lose one of these matches