Antonio Conte has poured further doubt over his future at Tottenham Hotspur in a fiery press conference after Champions League elimination to Milan. ‘I am ready to die for this club, but not so stupid to kill myself.’
The Italian tactician is expected to walk away at the end of the season, as he has grown increasingly ill at ease with the club’s strategy and expectations.
He insisted finishing in the top four of the Premier League was a “miracle” and that Milan were the favourites to go through the Champions League Round of 16 due to their history and recent Scudetto victory, despite a vastly lower budget in every area.
Conte sat down at a press conference today and practically confirmed his exit from Spurs once his contract expires on June 30.
“We need time and patience. I understood that here the patience is finished for the fans, for the environment and then we will see what happens in the future,” said the former Inter, Juventus and Italy coach.
“I am not so stupid to kill myself. If you ask me now am I ready now to die for this club? Yes. Until the end I am ready to die for this club. But I am not so stupid to kill myself.
“You know with the club we signed a contract, a strange contract one-year-and-a-half. Usually you sign for three years but I think it was for the club and for myself to see the situation.
“For the club to understand my personality, my capacity as a coach and for me – from my side it was the same. To understand if we were on the same page. Now after one year and a half, the club knows me, I know the club and it is clear this situation. We have to finish the season and then we will see.
“The club knows very well my thoughts. I am ready to die for this club until the end of the season.”
Tottenham fans have also become frustrated with Conte for his style of football, especially after going out of the Champions League to Milan 1-0 on aggregate.
While they had the need to score a goal to level the tie in London, it was the Rossoneri who had the best chances up until deep into stoppages, when Mike Maignan denied Harry Kane.