Spurs flops are warned by Conte that time could be running out
Antonio Conte has warned his Tottenham Hotspur players that he is watching their every move and preparing to speak to the club about who he believes will be able to fulfil his demands.
Conte admitted “the level of Tottenham is not so high” following their humiliating defeat by NS Mura in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, and hinted that he would want reinforcements in the January transfer window.
The Italian said hard work and commitment were sometimes not enough, as he declared the need for players with the “right mentality”.
“For sure, we need players with the right mentality and with the quality,” Conte said. “Players that deserve to play for Tottenham and aspire to be competitive, to fight for the shirt, to win something.
“I am making my evaluations and then I will speak to the club. But it is important that we have to know that the situation is not simple. We need time, we need passion, we need work, and I am here for this. It does
not mean that we have to change a lot – I am ready to do what the club wants to do. But now, the situation is very clear.
“I am working with the team for three or four weeks and I have found a great commitment, a great ability. But now time has passed and I am making my evaluations directly. Not through the TV or through other people, but directly.
“We need to improve a lot to reduce the gap with the top teams. I am not scared to face this situation, but it is important that everybody understands.”
Tottenham’s defeat in Slovenia means that they cannot finish at the top of their Conference League group. If they finish in second place, they will have to navigate an extra two-legged play-off in February.
Harry Kane apologised to the fans for the performance, and admitted that it was an “unacceptable” showing from the team. “We made some immature mistakes and got punished for them,” he said. All we can say is sorry to the travelling fans, sorry to the fans back home.”
Conte chose Thursday’s game to give Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele, Matt Doherty and Ryan Sessegnon their first starts under his management. Alli, Ndombele and Doherty were substituted in the second half, and Sessegnon was shown an early red card for two lunging tackles.
Conte is expected to choose a similar line-up to his previous Premier League matches when Tottenham travel to Burnley tomorrow, with Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura returning to the team.