Antonio Conte he couldn’t contain himself. After having lost a 1-3 lead on Southampton’s ground, the Italian coach appeared at a press conference to charge everything against his own players.
The Italian coach was a public and desperate cry for things to change inside the Tottenham. Perhaps it is because he knows that he will not continue next season or perhaps it is because he genuinely thinks that something is what his team needs, but he did not want to hold anything back.
There is a lot of talk about the club, the owner and the coaches, but what about the players? Yes, everyone has a responsibility, but the experienced strategist believes that the big problem of Los Spurs It is the overprotection of soccer players. It seems that they are never to blame for anything.
ANTONIO CONTE CHARGED AGAINST HIS OWN PLAYERS
TOTTENHAM IS NOT A REAL TEAM: «The worst situation was what happened on the court, what happened in the last couple of months. What has happened in my second season (as manager of Tottenham). I think it’s time to talk because, after this performance, this is unacceptable. You are winning 3-1, you are in control of the game, and you are capable of conceding 2 goals and risking 3 goals. It is much better now to go towards the problem. The problem is that once again we show that we are not a team.
PURE SELFISH PLAYERS: «We are 11 players who jump onto the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players who don’t want to help each other, who don’t put their hearts into it. Today I prefer to talk than hide the situation. Try to speak, try to improve the spirit. Talking about the tactical or the technical in this situation… The most important thing, if you want to become a true team, if you want to be competitive, if you want to fight to win, is the desire, the fire that you must have in your eyes, in your heart. . And you must prove it at all times.
PLAY FOR THE SHIELD AND FOR THE FANS: «If I have to compare last season with this one, we are worse off. When you’re not a team, anything can happen (…) I’m not talking about the technical or tactical aspect, but about being a team. That’s what’s important. Understanding that we play for our badge, that we play to make our fans proud of us. We have to play to show desire.”
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PLAYERS: «It is said that the club has responsibility for the transfer market, each coach who is here has his responsibility… And the players? And the players? What about the players? I can say that if you want to compete, if you want to fight, you have to improve in this aspect (collective spirit, union and hunger for victory). And now this aspect, for me, is really very low. I only see 11 players playing for themselves.”
THE OVERPROTECTION OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS: «They try to find excuses for the players (journalism and the environment). They only do that, they only do that: find excuses for the players. Excuses, excuses. They protect and protect them in these situations. Come on, come on, please. We are professionals. The club pays us a lot of money. The players get a lot of money, I get a lot of money. Not to make excuses and not have spirit, or not show a sense of belonging or a sense of responsibility. For me, this is not unacceptable. Because this is the first time in my career that I see something like that. And until now I have been unable to change it. Compared to last season, the situation has become somewhat worse.”
THE RECENT HISTORY OF TOTTENHAM IS THIS: “Because? They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress. It’s easy this way. The history of Tottenham is this. In the last 20 years there is the owner and they have never won here. But why? Just for the club or for every coach that has been here? I have seen the coaches who have been on the bench. They go against the coach and the other situation is protected at all times. Until now he had tried to hide the situation. Not now. Because I repeat: I don’t want to see what I saw today again. It is unacceptable for the respect of the fans. They follow us, they pay the ticket and seeing this type of performance is something unacceptable. We have to think a lot about this.”
IF TOTTENHAM WANTS TO WIN THEY MUST CHANGE: «I want to see fire in the eyes and in the heart, I want to see the right spirit. And not only in training, on the field during matches. This is where you have to make a difference and I haven’t seen him. Until now, I tried to hide the situation. But now we have 10 games to play and there are things we can fight for. But what can we fight with this spirit, with this commitment? Because? For seventh or eighth place? I’m not used to this position. I am very upset. And everyone has to take responsibility. Not only the club, not only the coach and the staff. Players need to get involved in this situation. It is time to change the situation if Tottenham wants to change. If they want to continue in this way, they can continue to change coaches, but the situation will not change. Trust me.”
Undefeated Data. Tottenham have only won 1 of their last 5 games played. In this span, they were left out of the UEFA Champions League, losing to the likes of Wolves and Sheffield United.
Did you know…? Antonio Conte already knows what it is to be a Premier League champion as DT. He got it with Chelsea.
