Just a few months ago, Antonio Conte was talking about ‘miracles’ and celebrating Champions League qualification.
Now the spotlight is on the Tottenham boss for all the wrong reasons.
Back-to-back Premier League defeats after a strong start to the season left third-placed Spurs five points clear of the summit after playing one game more.
They also greatly improved Newcastle, who won 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, to fourth.
Conte turned down the chance to talk about Newcastle first but contentious, usable to use his post-match interview to automatically send a message to the Tottenham board.
« We need time and patience and, of course, money, » Conte told BBC Radio 5 live while answering questions about Tottenham’s third defeat in five Premier League games.
- Newcastle climb to fourth after winning at Spurs
“We have just started”
As recently as August, Conte said Spurs needed at least two additional transfer windows for the competition for the Premier League title.
Italy, who was appointed in November 2021, reiterated their message after the Newcastle defeat and said Spurs « need time » to improve the quality of the squad.
Spurs were without Brazilian striker Richarlison, Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski, Argentinian defender Cristian Romero and Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg through injury.
“My only concern at the moment is that we have to try to cross our fingers and not get hurt because we are not a team with such squad depth to face competitions like the Premier League and the Champions League, but it’s not something against the club,” added Conte.
“It is certain that there are players who need to rest for two days to recover because we have players who for them it’s seven games in a row and we don’t have the possibility of rotation. right now.
« When I speak before I always said look, we have just started the process for Tottenham to put Tottenham in the best position to be more competitive to fight for something important, we have just started.
“For this reason, we have to deal with this situation. For me, it’s not easy, it’s not simple, but we have to face and manage the situation with experience and stick together. »
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Should Wilson’s goal have stood?
On a bad day for Tottenham, Newcastle took the lead in controversial circumstances.
Callum Wilson scored with an excellent lob from outside the box after colliding with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The goal was awarded after a long check by the video assistant referee (VAR) for a foul and a handball.
Conte declined to comment when asked about it – except to describe it as a « strange situation » – but former England goalkeeper Ben Foster said on social media it should have been denied.
“This Callum Wilson goal MUST be disallowed,” added Foster on Twitter.
« The GK is the player who controls the ball, if he beats the attacker against the ball and the attacker is in the way, unfortunately it’s a foul. »
But former Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison disagreed.
“Wilson is holding on. I don’t think it’s a fault,” he added on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It’s controversial, but for me, the corn should be maintained. Hugo Lloris should simply have dismissed Wilson. »
Former Bournemouth striker Wilson has told BBC Sport he has every right to challenge Lloris for the ball.
“I think sometimes goalkeepers get too much love [from referees]. But he torsoed it and really dove into me, and I went on and put him in,” he added.
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« Don’t take credit from the players »
Newcastle have spent over €200million on players since Eddie Howe won the managerial role in November 2021.
The investment appears to be paying off, with the Magpies moving into the top four following their win at Spurs.
“The problem is if you associate money with money, it takes credit away from the players,” Howe said after the game.
“A lot of players were there anyway. Praise players for performance, don’t look at how the team was put together.
“There is a long way to go. It’s a very tight division.
“We are taking advantage of the moment but we are not going to get ahead of ourselves. We will try to win. I’m sure people will talk to us but I don’t want to put any external pressure on my players. »
Former Tottenham midfielder, Jamie Redknapp, a statement on Sky Sports: “Eddie Howe deserves so much credit. Maybe genes wanted the superstar’s name as a manager, but he did it beautifully. They go everywhere, they have the fan base, the infrastructure and the money. »
