The manager of Tottenham Hotspur, Antonio Conte wants to do everything possible to ensure that his team is in the best position to replace any of the top four clubs that might slip before the end of the season.
Antonio Conte who was without a coaching job for over four months after he left Inter Milan at the end of the 2020-2021 season, joined Tottenham over three weeks ago.
Before he arrived at the club, Tottenham Hotspur were going through a scaring nosedive on the league table. Hence, his first mission is to help the club make it to at least a Europa League spot but the ultimate goal is to make it back into the top four.
Antonio Conte’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur prevented the club from experiencing a third straight league defeat. He led the club to a goalless draw with Everton in his first league match in charge of Spurs.
On Sunday, November 21, Leeds United visited Tottenham Hotspur for Conte’s first home league game in charge of Spurs. Fortunately for him, his team managed to beat Leeds United 2-1.
The narrow win pushed Tottenham to the 7th spot with 19 points in 12 games, four points away from fourth-placed West Ham United.
As it stands, Antonio Conte knows that before Tottenham Hotspur could break into the top four, first placed Chelsea, second-placed Manchester City, third-placed Liverpool, or fourth-placed West Ham must have to slip.
While Spurs are waiting for any of the top four to slip, they will have to play their part which is to keep winning their games and hope that 5th placed Arsenal and 6th placed Wolves keep dropping points.
After Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 win over Leeds United, Antonio Conte said: “For sure we want to fight and try to improve the position in the table. I must be honest and say that in England the league is very difficult and every game is tough. You can lose points against all the teams.
“At the moment, there are four teams that for many reasons – working with the same coaches or having invested a lot of money – there is a gap to four teams but I’m not scared about this.
“I trust in my players and this squad. We want to fight to stay close and fight for the Champions League. Then, if there is one team that slips in this season or makes mistakes, we must be there to try to do our best.”
Tottenham Hotspur have their first Premier League victory under Antonio Conte. 🇮🇹pic.twitter.com/lUpW9O11mc
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 21, 2021
Antonio Conte wants to spread passion at Tottenham Hotspur
Over the years, Antonio Conte is known as a very passionate coach. He displayed his enormous passion on the touchline on Sunday after Spurs managed to beat Leeds United 2-1.
When he was made to comment about his passionate celebration, Conte admitted that the win over Leeds was important due to how the club struggled to get it.
He also admitted that he is a coach with passion and wished to spread it to every department at Tottenham Hotspur.
“I have a great passion and I want to transfer it in all the environment,” the coach said. “When it comes to passion, you either have it or you don’t.
“This win is very important because we struggled today. We played two different games and they beat us on the tactical aspect in the first half. To play against Leeds and Bielsa is not easy. We must be satisfied. This is only a point from which to start for the rest of the season.
“I said to the players that we have a lot of space for improvement and I’m pleased as many were involved today. [Harry] Winks struggled in the first half but played with personality in the second. [Ryan] Sessegnon coming on was also important so it’s right to celebrate with passion.
“We celebrated the win because I think that it was difficult and we knew this. I read the stats of Leeds and they were the first to bring high intensity. In the first half, we struggled a lot because they played better than us, they won tackles and they led the game. We conceded possession too much.
“In the second half, we changed the plan tactically and we started to put pressure in every area of the pitch. We created chances to score and maybe we deserved to score more goals. For sure it’s an important win because we needed this.
“After the first half, the fans weren’t satisfied with the football and I agreed with them. In the second, we changed it totally. I changed the plan tactically but they then played well and with personality.
“We created difficulties for Leeds in the second half and to win in this way is good as I bring with me and my players two different situations – the first half and the second half.”
“This team has character and personality.” 💬
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 21, 2021
Antonio Conte on today's victory… pic.twitter.com/oGMLpq8NRB
