Conte against Tottenham: “We’re not a team, that’s not good for me”

From our correspondent Davide Chinellato

March 18th
– LONDON

Antonio Conte against everyone. In Southampton, the coach let loose for that 3-3 win in the 93rd minute and attacked his Tottenham, his players, that team that has ceased to be a team, the one made up of “eleven players who play for themselves”. “And the fans deserve much better than that,” says the Italian coach in an outburst that only confirms that his future is far from London, far from these Spurs who don’t make the progress Antonio imagined to become competitive, to be at his height and fight to win.

“SELFISH”

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Conte puts aside the discussions on the penalty against in the 93rd minute (“For me it wasn’t a penalty, but if we talk about that, let’s hide what’s really wrong”) and immediately sinks the blow. “If you want to become a strong team that plays to win, you have to put the desire into it, you have to help your teammates, have fire in your eyes and show it at all times: I only see 11 players on the pitch who play for themselves – attacks Conte – From this point of view we are worse than last season: if we had had this fire inside we would not have come out of the FA Cup against a Championship team that made young players play, we would not have lost today. The club must take its responsibilities when The market is wrong. But the players? This attitude has already happened in this club in the past with other coaches: it’s time for the players to take their responsibilities, otherwise there’s no point in talking about Europe and this season can only end very badly.” .

ALIBI

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Conte also rejects the idea that the uncertainty about his contract expiring at the end of the season and not yet renewed contributes to the decline of his Tottenham. “They are excuses, all excuses – he attacks -: keep bringing up this topic and you will only give other alibis to the players. But we are professionals, the club pays us a lot of money. And for me it is unacceptable that the players do not show a sense of belonging, a desire to fight for the team, desire to work to improve, also from a mental point of view. For me, all this is unacceptable because it is the first time in my career that it happens to me. My teams are usually very stable, this one, however, when it goes on the pitch she is scared, convinced that everything can happen above all in the negative.It is time to tell the truth, to tell it like it is, to say that here at Tottenham they are not used to playing for something important, that they prefer to play without pressure. It’s happened before, but it’s unacceptable to me, and it must be the same for the fans.”

THE FINAL

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Conte does not talk about his future, but puts his sights on the season finale, the one in which Tottenham should fight for Europe: “Fight for what? With this spirit, this commitment? For what?! If we are these, it is useless to talk Champions League: we don’t have the spirit, we’re not a team. So we’re 10th, maybe 7th if that’s okay with you. But that’s not okay with me, I’m not used to it: I’m angry, and I think that everyone has to take their responsibilities. But it has to be the players who do it, because they are the ones who have to change the situation if Tottenham really want to change. Otherwise they can keep changing coaches, but the situation won’t change.”