by Antonio Conte has addressed the media for the first time since Tottenham’s poor midweek Champions League exit against AC Milan.
Tottenham came on with a goal in the first leg but were unable to progress to the quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw at home to the Italian side – much to the frustration of many Spurs fans, with pressure mounting from the moment the Spurs boss whose contract ends this summer.
After the game, Richarlison chastised Conte for not starting it on Wednesday night and also admitted that it had been a *** season so far.
Spurs host Nottingham Forest on Saturday and the side are looking to bounce back from their European exit and continue their battle for a top four finish.
Here’s every word Conte had to say in preparation for this weekend’s clash with Forest.
Antonio Conte has addressed the media for the first time since Spurs were knocked out of the Champions League
Tottenham drew 0-0 with AC Milan in midweek, losing 1-0 on aggregate to the Italian side
Team news
Coming into the game with Forest, Conte revealed he would be without several key players.
The Italian revealed defender Emerson picked up the knock on Friday and will be assessed on Saturday before the match.
Emerson didn’t train today because he had a kick and couldn’t train today. We’ll try him out tomorrow morning and see if he’s available on the bench at least.
“Another situation we need to monitor is Perisic. He had a training session today but I need to talk to him tomorrow and see if he’s available. Then injuries, Lloris, Bentancur, Bissouma and Sessegnon were out.
Conte in an interview with Richarlison
After exiting the Champions League in midweek, Richarlison slapped the Spurs boss for failing to start him in recent games. The striker also revealed that it was the club’s worst season so far.
However, Conte was quick to say that the striker had not criticized him and that the Brazilian had since apologized.
“First of all, I watched an interview with Richarlison. He didn’t criticize me. He said his season was crappy and he’s right. His season was not good. He had injuries, he played and scored in the Champions League and then he went to the World Cup and then he got seriously injured.
“He didn’t score any goals for us. I think he was really honest when he said his season wasn’t good. His season is not over yet. If he deserves to play, I’ll give him a chance.
“For the rest of the interview, I think he made a mistake. When you talk about “I” and not “us”, you are being selfish. I tell my players that if we want to build something important and win a trophy, we have to talk to ‘us’ and not ‘me’ because otherwise you think of yourself.
Richarlison said in an interview with TNT Sports Brazil that it was a “s*** season”
The Brazilian struggled to make regular starts after his summer arrival from Everton
He made a mistake and apologized, and it’s good that I clarified it again with the team. We need to improve in this aspect. We need to be more team-oriented and show more positive spirit, especially in negative moments.
“Sometimes it’s not enough to be a good guy. You have to show the right willingness and fight to win the game and duels, to be mischievous. I think we are a little soft sometimes, but I am the coach and I am the first responsible for that, and that doesn’t happen every time.
“I need to improve the team and I need to improve my team spirit. This has always been the case in the past, and I hope it will be so here.
Conte on Arnaut Danjuma
Arnaut Danjuma has not had his best time since moving to Tottenham on loan until the end of the season. The winger has only made four appearances since arriving from Villarreal.
Conte revealed during a press conference that he sees his “desire” in every training session as the forward aims to play more regularly for Tottenham.
As for Arnaut, I certainly feel sorry for him because he appeared on the transfer market in January and the club wanted to loan him. He has good qualities and good quality for sure, maybe he doesn’t have the particular qualities to be a No 10, maybe he’s more of a second striker or a winger.
I see his desire, his will in every training session and against Milan, if we don’t have a red card for Romero, he comes in and tries to play 4-2-4. I always have to try to find the best solution.
Arnaut Danjuma has only made four appearances since his transfer from Villarreal in January
About your future at the club
There has been a lot of talk lately about whether Conte will be at the club next season.
In the pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Forest, Conte said he was ready to “die” for the club.
“My future again. At the moment, the most important thing is to focus on the league. You know what my opinion is, what my desire is. I tell you many times that the situation I found and we are far from aspiring to be competitive to fight for the win.
“I’ve been saying this for a long time. We need time and patience. I see that the environment has no patience or the environment does not want to see reality. The club knows very well what my situation is and what my thoughts are. We cannot perform miracles. If I’m going to target people. I’m not that person. The reality is this.
“We’ll see what happens in the future. I’m not stupid to kill myself. I’m ready to die for this club until the end, but then we’ll see, I’m not too stupid to keep killing myself.
Antonio Conte has revealed in a press conference that he is ready to “die” for the club
On a booed shift
As Spurs chased a midweek goal against Milan, Conte opted to bring in Davinson Sanchez in a decision that surprised fans and caused Tottenham’s faithful to boo the decision.
“We had three strikers, we continued to play with three strikers. We played with Porro. We played 3-4-3 [before]without [11 players]we played 3-2-3.
“But if you win a match, it’s because you only have strikers?” At every moment, we must find the risk, but not lose our balance. Then we had the opportunity. If you think we can play with four forwards, 2-2-4 and if you think so with counter attack and space. All right…
I think I do my job and everyone has to do their job. I think I have the career and experience behind me to try and make the best decision. Then I repeat and you can accept or not. Reality to risk to score and if you score one goal you start with 30 minutes with four forwards. I understand the fans, but I am a coach and I always have to find the best solution for the team.
The decision to bring in Davinson Sanchez (right) against Milan surprised many Spurs fans
Conte on Cristian Romero
With 13 minutes left in the match against Milan, Spurs defender Cristian Romero picked up his second yellow card of the match – and Tottenham had to play the rest of the match with 10 men.
While the team was chasing after goal, Romero’s second yellow card did not help them at all and probably disrupted the game.
“We’re talking about a really good player. I told him to become a top, top player and he has all the potential to be a top, top defender, he needs to control much better himself.
Especially for a centre-back, but for all players who get a yellow card after 15 or 20 minutes and you are at risk at any moment – you and the team. I know for sure that he understood and Cristian that he wants to improve in this aspect. If he can improve in that aspect, we are talking about a really, really top defender, despite his young age.
“He’s really strong and has improved a lot, but there’s one side he needs to improve. I’m his coach and it’s my job to improve my players and he has to improve that aspect to become a complete, complete player at a big, big level.
