It started well, but it ended badly. That is what happened with Antonio Conte as Tottenham coach. But Spurs had worse moments, when it starts badly and ends badly (Nuno Espirito Santo for example). In November 2023, the North London club appointed the famous Italian coach on a two and a-half year deal, which had an option for another year, but it never came to that. Leaving London for the second time (after quitting Chelsea), Conte now has a first non-winning club in his resume. Whenever he went, he won something (even the title in Serie B with Bari), but for Spurs, it’s still the same – another coach comes and goes and there are no trophies. But what went wrong in Conte – Tottenham marriage?1.88 – Tottenham averaged 1.88 points per game in the Premier League under Antonio Conte (P56 W32 D9 L15), the second highest figure for any Spurs manager (min. 38 games in charge):1.89 – Pochettino1.88 – Conte1.83 – Villas-Boas1.74 – Redknapp1.64 – MourinhoArrivederci. pic.twitter.com/hzUKWd63XR— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 26, 2023 Ultimately, the results. There were none and the club was paying the Italian 14 million euros per year and was not even complaining that much, it was actually Conte who complained. The first year went great, he came in and was a vast improvement over Espirito Santo, the Champions League spot was secured and this second year was supposed to be an upgrade, especially after favorites like Chelsea and Liverpool went out of the race but the team regressed in all departments. Conte got the players he wanted, co complaints there, but the results never came. His tactical system was not working anymore. Tottenham have scored the third most goals in the Premier League this season (52), but also conceded 40 goals, and only six teams in the entire league have let in more during this season. Last season, Son Heung-min scored 23 goals, as same as Mohamed Salah, but in 2022/23, he scored only four in the Premier League and 10 overall. Maybe he is declining, but we will see that when the next manager comes in. The future of Harry Kane was put on hold as everything seemed fine last year, but now, his name is on the transfer lists again. The alleged serial winner who never gives up lost and gave up“When the results come, everything is quiet, but tension grows when they are missing. Conte is definitely a tough coach, not someone you would play five-a-side football with” said once former Inter goalkeeper Tommaso Berni, who spent one season with Conte. And that was evident when the results were no good in 2023. He didn’t change anything in his tactical approach or match preparations, but started to blame the players more and more. In his now famous last conference rant he said:“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’s story is this. I said I wanted to see the fire and I have not seen it. I said that I want to see the fire in their eyes, in their hearts. I want to see the right spirit. Not only in the training session, but on the pitch because it is here you make the difference. Until now, I try to hide the situation but there are 10 games to go and some people think we can fight. Fight for what? With this spirit, this attitude, this commitment? What? For seventh, eighth, 10th place?”. Is Conte’s rant his one way ticket out of Tottenham? Probably…That was the rant after his side lost the lead and played only 3-3 with the last placed Southampton. And the dressing room was not a happy place after his words.“I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing” said Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, one of his regular starters in the team. During this second season, he had to deal with injured players too. Fraser Forster and Yves Bissoum had Covid, while Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison were absent for a time. The Brazilian was unhappy with his playing time, so he criticized the coach, who replied, also in public. Conte: Yes, Richarlison, your season has been sh*tAlso there were off the field issues which certainly didn’t help. His close friend, confidante and Tottenham’s fitness guru Gian Piero Ventrone sadly passed away at the age of 62 in Octobe, but that was not the end. He lost close associates Sinisa Mihajlovic and Gianluca Vialli who also died, within weeks of each other in December and January. And then Conte got ill. He had an operation to remove his gallbladder on February 1. He rushed back too soon, determined to prepare for the Champions League tie against AC Milan but after two games on the touchline was advised to step away from his work once more to help his recovery. He is now in Italy, where he will wait to see the situation in Serie A once the season is over, while Spurs are left in limbo and will battle for the Champions League place until the very end. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7131898##
