Antonio Conte was asked to explain his ‘joke’ to the Italian media about getting sacked by Tottenham Hotspur before the end of the season. ‘Football is really strange.’
After Spurs were knocked out of the Champions League by Milan with a 1-0 aggregate scoreline, Conte gave a series of post-match interviews, including with Amazon Prime Italia.
He dropped hints about his future, noting that rather than ask if he would renew his contract, it was worth wondering if Tottenham could fire him before the end of the season instead.
Speaking at a press conference in London today, Conte was asked to explain those comments.
“This was a provocation, you understand, about my future. A provocation, a joke, ‘una battuta.’ When you tell something, to joke,” explained Conte.
“You asked me about the future and I said to you that you don’t know what happens. Because maybe the club can sack me. But I repeat: I don’t think the club is thinking this. The club sees everyday what me and my staff, we are doing for this club. It was only an answer about my future.”
The former Italy, Juventus and Inter boss was asked if Spurs directors had reassured him he would be safe until the end of the season.
“I think there is not one club that can tell the manager you stay here until the end of the season. You know football is really strange. You don’t know what happens tomorrow, you understand. But I repeat: in my opinion we try in every moment to do everything, me and my staff. And I think the club appreciates this.
“Because if you continue to ask me if I sign a new contract, it means that maybe the club appreciates what we are doing, the work that we doing, in this one year and a half.”
Tottenham fans were also unhappy with Conte’s suggestions that they were the underdogs against Milan in the Champions League because the Rossoneri are the reigning Champions of Italy, despite the vast difference in budgets.
Conte again said today that the Premier League is becoming its very own version of the Super League.
“I think that the Premier League is going to become the NBA in the next future. For this reason you have to be prepared, otherwise you risk to finish without silverware or Europe.”