Conte sold a dummy
Spurs boss forced to train with mannequins
ANTONIO CONTE has resorted to using mannequins in training to make up for a lack of numbers in his Covid-hit squad ahead of tomorrow’s daunting encounter with Liverpool.
The Tottenham boss was diplomatic yesterday, saying his side were ready to play if the Premier League decided that was best and that vaccinations are a personal decision.
But he did shed light on the last fortnight’s disturbances as Spurs closed their training ground after nine players tested positive for Covid, along with multiple staff and Under 23 players.
‘For three days we didn’t have a training session and then we had a training session with only 10, 12 players,’ said Conte, who added morale was ‘very, very down’ at the club.
‘It wasn’t easy to face this situation and to train the players. To have 12 players is very difficult. Usually, if you want to try a formation, you need 20 players and it’s not simple to do this. You have to train with mannequins and I stopped. It’s not easy. It’s not the same.’
Tomorrow Spurs host Liverpool, two weeks since their last outing in a 3-0 win over Norwich. In that time their Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester were postponed, while their Europa Conference League clash with Rennes was also called off.
Conte says even with the players who previously tested positive for Covid coming back, he must be cautious.
‘You have to pay great attention,’ said the manager. ‘You can’t give them the same amount of work as other players. If you want everything too soon, you risk injuries. In this situation, you have to take the risk and, at the same time, pay great attention. They need time to be fit.’
Conte called for unity among Premier League clubs, adding: ‘We are in a time when the best solution is to collaborate, to try not to stop football, to try not to close again the stadiums.’ The Italian also stated he wanted his players to take the coronavirus vaccine but insisted it should be a personal choice.
‘Every single person at Tottenham or at other clubs has to take the decision for himself,’ he said. ‘I’ve been vaccinated and my family, my daughter and wife, they did the same. But it is a personal matter.’
His view differs from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who insisted Premier League stars should feel morally obliged to have the coronavirus vaccine.
‘It’s a question of persuading,’ said the Liverpool boss. ‘From a moral point of view, it should be mandatory for each person I think but that’s not from a legal point of view if that makes sense.
‘I’m 54 years old — and I am really a big believer that you can convince people about the right things to do but I’m not sure in this specific case.
‘England is a much better place vaccination-wise than Germany is, for example.
‘And it is unbelievable how aggressive the anti-vax scene is and how clear they are with all the things, they obviously know better than the rest of us, it is really tricky. I don’t think it should be mandatory legally but morally yes.’ l EVERTON are close to agreeing a £17million deal for Dynamo Kiev left back Vitaliy Mykolenko. The Ukraine star, 22, has been on Merseyside for a medical ahead of completing a deal on January 1 which could see Lucas Digne leave Goodison.