CNN
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Tottenham Hotspur was concerned in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Southampton within the Premier League on Saturday.
Nonetheless, the drama didn’t finish after the ultimate whistle as Tottenham supervisor Antonio Conte proceeded to ship a damning evaluation of his staff’s efficiency – Spurs threw away a 3-1 lead – and the membership’s tradition.
Former Manchester United supervisor Alex Ferguson, in response to Roy Keane, as soon as famously gave his gamers a pre-match staff discuss forward of a sport towards Spurs, merely saying: “Lads, it’s Tottenham.”
These three phrases have been Ferguson’s means of writing Spurs off as having a brittle streak, although Conte used a couple of extra phrases in his extraordinary 10-minute rant.
“We’re 11 gamers that go into the pitch. I see egocentric gamers, I see gamers that don’t wish to assist one another and don’t put their coronary heart (in),” stated Conte.
“Why? As a result of they’re used to it right here, they’re used to it. They don’t play for one thing essential. They don’t wish to play below stress, they don’t wish to play below stress,” added Conte.
“It’s straightforward on this means. Tottenham’s story is that this. Twenty years there may be the proprietor and so they by no means gained one thing however why? The fault is just for the membership, or for each supervisor that stays right here. I’ve seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”
Spurs have gained a trophy within the final 20 years – the League Cup last in 2008 – and in addition reached the Champions League last in 2019, earlier than shedding 2-0 to Liverpool. Nonetheless the membership final gained a top-English title over half a century in the past.
Conte’s contract with Spurs expires on the finish of the season, however Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher tweeted that the Italian “desires to be sacked on this worldwide break,” because the Premier League pauses till April 1 whereas Euro 2024 qualifiers are performed.
“His level about Spurs not successful for a very long time is correct, however you don’t talk about your individual membership like that. Particularly while you’re getting paid fortunes by them!” tweeted Carragher.
“The development in Arsenal this season after ending above them final season kills quite a lot of his arguments,” added Carragher.
Earlier this month, Spurs have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United and the Champions League by AC Milan.
Saturday’s draw retains Spurs within the hunt for a spot within the Champions League subsequent season, however a win towards Southampton would have made the London staff’s job of qualifying for European soccer’s high competitors simpler.
“I see solely 11 gamers that play for themselves,” continued Conte, who has beforehand coached Italy in addition to Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
“There are 10 video games to go and a few individuals suppose we will battle. Battle for what with this spirit, this angle, this dedication? What? For seventh, eighth, tenth place? I’m not used to this place.
“I’m actually upset and everybody has to take their accountability. Not solely the membership, the supervisor and the employees, the gamers should be concerned on this state of affairs as a result of it’s time to change this example if Tottenham wish to change.
“In the event that they wish to proceed on this means, they’ll change the supervisor, quite a lot of managers, however the state of affairs can not change. Consider me.”
Conte’s tirade hasn’t gone down effectively with quite a lot of main Spurs followers.
“Conte isn’t eager about working to vary the tradition,” tweeted Martin Cloake. “Yesterday’s rant was the self curiosity of a narcissist whose anti soccer ways haven’t made the most effective of what we’ve got. That doesn’t imply there is no such thing as a blame elsewhere, however he’s culpable too.”
A win at Southampton, would have moved Spurs as much as third place within the Premier League desk. The draw put them on 49 factors, two greater than fifth-placed Newcastle United, although having performed two extra video games.
“Not ok .. the sport ought to be completed,” admitted Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski in an interview with the membership’s web site. “It’s utterly our fault, we’ve very upset with our themselves and it’s not ok. It seems like a loss.”