Conte: This is as good as a trophy
Spurs return to the Champions League as manager completes his miracle
ANTONIO CONTE was serenaded in the sunshine as Tottenham completed their transformation in style with five goals, a return to the Champions League and a share of the Golden Boot for Son Heung-min. It will not go down with the loaves-and-fishes or the water-into-wine but Conte claimed when he arrived in November with the team trailing in ninth that it would take a miracle for Spurs to make the top four.
In the end, it came with a couple of points to spare. ‘In my mind, my heart, my head I know what we did in these seven months,’ said Conte. ‘We didn’t lift a trophy but I worked a lot with my players to bring this club to play on the Champions League. I want to consider this qualification like a trophy.’
Home wins against Arsenal and Burnley were decisive and this trip to Norwich, home of the worst team in the Premier League, became a glorious procession.
Dejan Kulusevski struck twice either side of a diving header by Harry Kane, and Son grabbed two late goals inside five minutes to end the campaign on 23, level at the top of the charts with Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
Conte spoke afterwards about the need to improve the squad to compete on a higher level and satisfy his personal ambitions but declined to confirm he will definitely remain in charge next season.
‘I’m under contract until next summer,’ said the Italian. ‘I signed for one year and seven months. I enjoyed a lot my time in Tottenham. It was a big challenge to come in during the season, something not simple for a coach like me.
‘On the other hand, I am a person with ambition. I like to fight for something important. I like to fight to win trophies. For me this is a trophy and I am very happy.
‘We’ll see. Now, it’s good to have three, four, five days of rest and with a clear mind you can consider the season and find the best possible solution. You have to be calm before you talk. There is a lot of emotion in my mind, my heart now.’
Tottenham fans made their feelings clear as they sang Conte’s name. With the Italian at the helm, they never seemed likely to mess things up at Carrow Road, helped by their hosts who were generous to a fault.
‘Painful,’ sighed Norwich boss Dean Smith. ‘It sums up the season, too many individual mistakes that cost us goals. We lose the ball and don’t have the athleticism to win it back, that’s something we’ll change in the summer.’
They slipped behind in the 16th minute, when Rodrigo Bentancur cut the ball square for Kulusevski to tap in. A Tim Krul error led to the second, kicking a clearance straight to Bentancur, who crossed for Kane to head in.
Norwich’s best opportunity of the first half came when one goal down. Eric Dier’s careless pass out of defence went straight to Milot Rashica, who advanced and lashed a shot wide from just outside the box.
After a promising start to the second half they disintegrated and dissent rang out, with chants for owner Delia Smith and her board to quit. These rumbled out into the streets. Few stayed behind for a miserable lap of appreciation.
The mood in the away end was far more celebratory as Kulusevski curled in his second, a brilliant strike by the Swede who muscled past the feeble defences of Dimitris Giannoulis before finding the top corner with his left foot.
Son, at this stage, cut a slightly frustrated figure. At kick-off he was a goal behind Salah, who started on the bench at Anfield, but the South Korean was foiled by a series of saves by Krul. The pick of them was an incredible reaction stop at point-blank range as Son connected with a low cross by Kane.
At 2-0, Kulusevki dribbled around the Norwich goalkeeper and with the goal open, paused
and tried to find Son. His hesitation allowed Max Aarons to scramble back and clear.
Eventually, Son found the net, a shot rapped firm and low, after a clever pass from Lucas Moura. His second soon followed, a delicious curler from outside the box to take him level with Salah, who came off the bench to score for Liverpool. The honour is shared and they receive a trophy each.
‘It’s incredible to have this award,’ said Son as he cradled the Golden Boot. ‘I missed the easiest chances and scored the toughest ones but I didn’t give up. I wanted to score and the team helped me a lot. You could see they wanted to help me. I got really emotional. I dreamed of it as a child. Literally, it’s my in hands. I can’t believe it.’ NORWICH CITY (5-4-1): Krul 5.5; Aarons 5, Byram 4.5 (Zimmermann 36min, 5), Hanley 5.5, Sorensen 5, Giannoulis 4; Dowell 5 (Springett 61, 5), Lees-Melou 4.5 (Rupp 71, 5), Normann 5, Rashica 5.5; Pukki 5. Booked: Byram, Normann, Springett. Manager: Dean Smith 5.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (3-4-3): Lloris 6; Sanchez 6, Dier 6, Davies 7; Royal 6 (Bergwijn 73, 6), Hojbjerg 7.5, Bentencur 7.5 (Winks 73, 6), Sessegnon 6.5; KULUSEVSKI 8.5 (Moura 68, 7), Kane 7, Son 8. Scorers: Kulusevski 16, 64, Kane 32, Son 70, 75. Booked: Son. Manager: Antonio Conte 7. Referee: Chris Kavanagh 6. Attendance: 27,022.