“We have to try and get something at the end of the season because this team has been building for a long time but hasn’t won anything,” he said. “It is the time to win something.

“We had a great season last year, especially in the Champions League. We needed to be more consistent in the Premier League, but the Champions League run was amazing. In the beginning, nobody expected us to get to the final, but we showed character and qualities. We deserved to get there. We want to keep going as we have been. We know we have quality, we have a strong team and we have added more quality in the team.”

Tottenham haven’t been prone to shelling out for new players, but in Tanguy Ndombele, a £55 million club record signing from Lyon and their first signing since Lucas Moura in January 2018, Sissoko thinks they’ve bought well.

“I know Ndombele from the national team,” he said to the Post. “He is a young player with great quality in the middle. He will bring more competition and that will be good for everyone.”

Sissoko, who joined Spurs from Newcastle for £30 million in 2016, has been a revelation. He started poorly, he was even mocked by his own fans who wouldn’t have cared if he was sold in 2017 or 2018, yet he was so impressive last season that Spurs legends voted him their player of the season.

Sissoko tackles, intercepts, drives forward or allows those around him to move forward. What was it that transformed his form so radically?

“Confidence on the pitch,” he said. “I had to show my quality but I needed time to adapt. I came from Newcastle where I was playing in one system and moved into a totally different system. With respect to Newcastle, the level was higher with Tottenham and it took me time to adapt.”

But adapt he did.

“I stayed focused, I stayed strong, I never gave up. The manager always believed in me, always pushed me to improve in every session. The other players did too and it really helped. Last year was fantastic for me. I want to be even better.”

Spurs are in a good place. They may have finished 27 points behind champions Manchester City, but it’s now the norm for them to play in the Champions League after years of watching their neighbours Arsenal qualify for it. Their new stadium is superb and their training ground is the best in England. Maurico Pochettino is coveted, but unlike a decade or so ago when they sold their best players they now keep hold of them.

Spurs beat Juventus 3-2 in a thrilling opening preseason friendly in Singapore. Manchester United are next in Shanghai on Thursday.

“Man United have a lot of fans in Shanghai, so it won’t be easy for us,” Sissoko said, “but it’s 11 v 11 on the pitch. We’ll fight like we always do, we’ll build our fitness and we’ll try to win the game. We have that winning mentality and we showed that against Juventus.”

He’ll come up against Antony Martial a fellow top-level player from the Paris suburbs. Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Benjamin Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante, Lucas Digne, Nicolas Anelka, Blaise Matuidi, Adrien Rabiot, Kingsley Coman and Ousame Dembele all hail from Paris or its environs. As do Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra.

As Sissoko talks, Rabiot and Matuidi walk past. Why does such a small area produce so much world-class talent – though many of those players start their professional careers outside the French capital? Sissoko began at Toulouse before his move to Newcastle, Toulouse being one of many French clubs who look to the Parisian suburbs to mine talent.

“Ask God,” he said. “It’s a good point and it’s very good for French football, but it’s very difficult to make the French squad.”

Sissoko played the key games for France in Euro 2016, but missed out on France’s World Cup win, most his 58 caps won between 2012 and 2017. His excellent form has seen him return to central midfield alongside Pogba in the middle for the world champions. On Thursday, the two compatriots will go head-to-head in a game which will give an insight into how far United have actually progressed this close season.