The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Time for Spurs to lose underdogs tag: Conte
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte reckons it is time Tottenham shed their underdog tag and rebuked Mauricio Pochettino for appearing to prepare an excuse ahead of today’s FA Cup semifinal at Wembley.
Spurs are four points behind the Blues at the Premier League summit with six games remaining after Chelsea’s loss at Manchester United last Sunday.
Pochettino on Thursday said his side were underdogs for the Wembley clash. Conte disagrees.
“There is a moment you have to finish considering yourself an underdog. I think this is the right moment,” Conte said.
“Tottenham now is a really great power in English football. This is the third year for them (under Pochettino) and I think it’s the right moment to finish (talking about being) considered (an) underdog and to find his excuse.”
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois missed the United clash with an ankle injury but has trained this week and is available again.
Spurs defender Danny Rose will not recover in time after missing almost three months with a knee injury, while both Erik Lamela and Harry Winks are both out injured.
Meanwhile Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus could return in tomorrow’s semi-final against Arsenal after two months out with a broken foot.
The Gunners are without David Ospina, Danny Welbeck, Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez.