Italian coach Antonio Conte practically confirmed he is leaving Tottenham Hotspur, lambasting his players after a 3-3 draw with Southampton. ‘I see selfish players. Tottenham never won something in 20 years. Why? It’s the same season, no matter who the manager is.’
Spurs had been leading 3-1, including the first Premier League goal from former Inter winger Ivan Perisic, before crumbling in the closing stages.
They were pegged back to 3-3 deep into stoppages by a penalty kick and Conte did not hold back in his fiery post-match press conference.
“The worst situation is what was happening on the pitch. What was happening in the last few months. What is happening in my second season,” said the former Juventus, Inter and Italy boss.
“I think that it’s the right moment to speak because I think that after this performance, for me this is unacceptable.
“I think it’s better to go into the problem, we are not a team. We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart.
“Before today I try to hide the situation and improve the situation with words. About tactical and technical, it’s one situation, about one thing is the desire, the fire that you need to have in your eyes, your heart. You need to have this in every moment.
“This season compared to last, now we are worse in this aspect. When you are not a team you cannot improve. Don’t forget we played against a Sheffield United team with young players and we dropped out.
“To understand we play for the badge. We play to make our fans proud of us. You have to have desire. The fire in your eyes. If you have this you don’t have this you don’t go out in the FA Cup.
“Here we are used to for a long time. The club has the responsibility for the transfer market, the coach has the responsibility. But the players, where are the players? I see only 11 players that play for themselves.
Now there are 10 games to go and someone thinks we can fight with this attitude, with this spirit, for what the seventh, eight place? What? I am not used to fighting for this. It’s every one’s responsibility.”
Conte became increasingly agitated and ended up shouting, in a way that reminded some of Giovanni Trapattoni’s legendary press conference in a chaotic version of German at Bayern Munich.
“They are used to it here. They don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way. Tottenham story is this for 20 years. There is the owner but they never won something. Why?
“It is the very same season, no matter who the manager is.
“If they want to continue in this way, they can change the manager, a lot of managers, but the situation cannot change. Believe me.”
Conte had also criticised his men after the Champions League exit to Milan, but in this case spoke about the Rossoneri’s ‘DNA’ in this competition, having won it seven times.
Fans were frustrated, as this ignored the fact that Spurs have a massive budget compared to the Serie A winners.
Conte is expected to return to Italy at the end of the season – if not before – with Juventus, Inter and Roma all linked.