Antonio Conte admitted he didn’t expect Spurs to struggle both on and off the ground upon joining the London-based underachievers. What he faced was a low-spirited side, with Conte’s predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo failing to establish a bond with players, while the boardroom didn’t do their part of the work to push the club to a higher level after that Champions League final’s defeat in 2019.Conte after a shocking defeat: ‘I’m starting to understand the situation’What the Italian boss did once he landed in North London was to impose a new way of doing things – thoroughly and with a much greater effort than before. His devotion and dedication immensely struck the players unfamiliar with such a hard-working approach.Proven title-winning boss Conte arrives to steady the ship at trophy-less TottenhamAfter several weeks, it’s blatantly clear Conte has changed the mood and attitude among the team. Spurs defender Ben Davies has opened up to The Athletic, joking he was lucky enough to miss the first few practices under Conte’s command regarding their physicality. “The boys had some really gruelling sessions,” he says. “A few videos came through of how they were feeling, but actually we realised we were missing it. As professional athletes, we got to where we are by working hard, so getting that standard back is where we want to be. We’re enjoying the hard work. Everybody wants that feeling of competitiveness, the sense that they’re always improving.Conte’s way: no ketchup and mayonnaise, more fruit and tips about sex activities”It’s very tough, but it’s what we need,” Davies says, physically drained from training but with the satisfied look that comes from pushing yourself to the limit. “We want to be as competitive as we can, and physicality is definitely an area where we need to improve. Our stats weren’t great at the start of the season. Now there’s a new boss who’s really got us running, really got us working. We’re intense, and we feel much better for it.FULHAM – BOURNEMOUTH”It was one of his main messages when he came in. We knew we needed to improve, and his attitude is we have to be the best in the aspects that we can control, and physicality is definitely something we can control.Davies celebrates against Brentford (©REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)”We’re covering a much greater distance in training, and there are a number of markers the sports scientists look for – be it high intensity, running, sprint distance, getting your heart rate above 85 per cent. All these numbers are what you need to do on the training pitch to improve and be in tip-top shape when it comes to match day, and the training is set up for us to reach those numbers. If that includes a little top up, a little bit of extra running at the beginning or end of a session, then we’ve done that, ” Davies concluded.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Thursday’s 2-0 victory against Brentford means Conte has registered back-to-back league wins with his new club, who moved up to sixth with the win as the Italian continues to mould his side as he sees fit.”We deserved to win for what we did in the game, in the end, I am happy because I have seen a significant commitment, a good passion for the players, ” Conte said after the game.
