Antonio Conte, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, has launched a blistering attack on his players and the club’s owners following their disappointing 3-3 draw against Southampton.
Speaking after the game (via Evening Standard), Conte accused his players of being selfish and lacking in heart, and claimed that Tottenham’s struggles were down to a lack of ambition and pressure.
The Italian manager was particularly critical of Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, saying that the club had been in a rut for two decades, despite changing managers repeatedly. He claimed that the players did not want to play under stress or pressure, and suggested that the club was lacking in ambition.
In a fiery press conference, he said:
“The problem is we have shown we are not a team.”
“We are 11 players. I see selfish players. I see players that don’t want to help each other, don’t play with heart.”
“It is the same every season, no matter who the manager is.”
“They’re used to it here. Don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure. They don’t want to play under stress.
“Tottenham’s story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something. Why?”
“Until now I tried to hide the situation. We can fight for what in this period, with this attitude, this commitment? For what? 7th? 8th place?”
Conte going down swinging here.
"They're used to it here. Don't play for something important. They don't want to play under pressure. They don't want to play under stress. Tottenham's story is this. 20 years there is the owner & they never won something. Why?"— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) March 18, 2023
"Until now I tried to hide the situation. We can fight for what in this period, with this attitude, this commitment? For what? 7th? 8th place?"
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) March 18, 2023
Conte’s outburst came after Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead against Southampton, with the home side scoring twice in the last 15 minutes, including a stoppage-time penalty, to snatch a draw. The result dealt a serious blow to Tottenham’s hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
The draw left Tottenham in sixth place, four points behind fourth-placed West Ham United, who have a game in hand. A win would have seen them climb to third in the table, but Conte’s side were unable to hold on to their lead.
Conte’s remarks are likely to fuel speculation about his future at Tottenham, with reports suggesting that he is set to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. However, his outspoken criticism of the club’s owners could hasten his departure.
The Italian manager has a reputation for being a demanding and uncompromising figure, and his comments are likely to be seen as a challenge to the Tottenham hierarchy. Whether they will respond by sacking him or backing him remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the pressure is mounting on Conte and his team as they look to salvage their season.
