‘Boss’s got a crush on our team’
PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG reckons Tottenham’s season is starting to bear fruit due to the daily squeeze Antonio Conte puts on his men.
Spurs were struggling for form and confidence when the Italian arrived as Nuno Espirito Santo’s replacement on November 2.
But despite some iffy performances in the Carabao Cup and Europa Conference League, they have gone quietly about business in the league and are unbeaten in the top flight under this manager.
Had today’s North London derby against Arsenal not been called off, they could have gone ahead of their rivals... with two games in hand.
And Hojbjerg is full of praise for the galvanising effect Conte has had on his squad, saying: “It’s squeezing, daily. Squeezing out everything we have and what we can give.
“There has been an accumulation in great commitment and a high level of fitness, a high level of hard work, good technical work, good tactical work, and you have seen that in the games.
“The process has been good but there is still room for improvement.
“The results are the things that also help you, let’s say, speed up that process a bit.”
When Conte arrived, he told his players they must ‘breathe winning in every moment of every day’ in a rousing speech – and he has worked them hard to stay true to his word.
Hojbjerg added: “The daily work is demanding but also necessary if you want to reach the top.
“We are enjoying the hard work and doing the steps the coach is asking from us.
“It requires a lot of mental, physical and technical attention, but I like it as it means you feel every day you are making something out of it.”
Like Hojbjerg, Conte was a defensive midfielder in his playing days and, although the Dane hasn’t seen too many clips, he knows enough of what his boss could do.
He added: “Even before he was our manager we were aware he had a coaching and a playing career on a high, high, high level.
“When you play at Juventus for such a long time and you are the captain, playing for Italy as well, you are reaching a very high level.
“So we are talking about a coach who was at the highest level for many years.”