Although Tottenham sit just behind the top four spots in the Premier League, things are seemingly growing increasingly tense with Antonio Conte and his possible exit in the summer may be a blessing in disguise, Apollo Heyes suggests.
The 53-year-old Italian coach took over in North London back in November 2021, being brought in to replace the dismissed Nuno Espirito Santo. He transmitted all the things expected of a Conte team and managed to guide the club to a top four finish in anxiety-inducing fashion, taking Spurs back to the Champions League.
Unfortunately for Conte and Tottenham, things have already started to look concerning in the capital and it seems as if the Italian coach is starting to hit the end of his usual club cycle, only this time without managing to pick up a trophy.
Whilst Tottenham have picked up 30 points from 17 Premier League games this season, they’ve struggled to shine on the pitch, often putting on depressing displays and leaving their fans frustrated, even when they pick up all three points.
The team seemingly show little development since Conte’s arrival and the heavy reliance on Harry Kane and Son Heung-min is even more obvious, with a clear lack of creativity in the squad. The Italian coach is arguably trying his usual tactic of public pressure on the board to invest in the transfer market and he still hasn’t signed a new contract, meaning he’s set to leave in June.
Whilst Spurs are trying hard to agree a new deal with the former Chelsea and Inter coach, it may be more beneficial for them in the long term if he simply leaves once his contract expires in the summer. The fans’ disappointment with the playing style is palpable and this doesn’t seem likely to change in the coming months, which could cause divisions as anger builds in the terraces.
Tension off the pitch could also harm the dynamics on it; Conte’s pre-match press conference today ahead of their clash with Crystal Palace made for an edgy experience, with stiff comments like “I didn’t suggest anything, I didn’t suggest anything”, “the club can sack the manager or there are different visions, different situations” and “if you want to put words in my mouth, I’m not the right person.”
This paints a picture of a tired and discontented coach, and Conte is not usually one who’ll stay in situations like this for too long. His strategy of not penning a new contract until after the January transfer window also suggests that he’s keeping the door open to an earlier exit than initially hoped.
It may be tough for Spurs fans to accept that Conte’s cycle at the club may be drawing to a close a little earlier than expected but a planned departure in the summer would allow them time to start coming up with possible replacements, rather than relentlessly working on a new deal for a coach who is not usually one to stick around when the going gets tough.
Don’t talk garbage.