Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ANTONIO IS A MAGICIAN
» Italian pulled a rabbit out of the hat to hand Spurs keys to Europe, says legend Sherwood When Conte took over, we stood no chance of getting in Champions League... Levy MUST land him long-term
TOTTENHAM must keep manager Antonio Conte in north London at all costs.
That’s the view of former Tottenham captain Tim Sherwood.
Since taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo, Italian boss Conte has instilled some much-needed steel and confidence in Spurs.
A draw at relegated Norwich today will seal fourth spot, and the final Champions League place.
Conte penned an 18-month deal back in November, but Sherwood insists it is essential that he is tied to the club for even longer.
“There’s no pressure on Conte,” said the former midfielder, who made 118 appearances for Tottenham as a player and spent five months managing the club from December 2013 to May 2014.
“I’m sure the chairman Daniel Levy realises that he needs this man to stay at the football club.
“Conte only has a year left on his deal now and I think a lot of players’ futures at the club will determine whether he extends that.
“When he came into the club, they had absolutely no chance of finishing in the Champions League places.
“But he wrestled them to a position where it’s in touching distance.”
Harry Kane’s future is expected to once again be a source of speculation this summer.
Manchester City were desperate to secure his services 12 months ago, but Spurs refused to sell. The England skipper has scored 245 goals in 385 games for his boyhood club, but has won no major honour. Sherwood (above) reckons the direction of Kane’s career now will be closely linked to Conte’s plans and
Spurs’ wider transfer strategy. He added: “If Conte extends his contract further – and the club give him more players to work with – then I think Kane also stays.”
Defender Eric Dier believes Tottenham stand no hope of losing their choker tag – ‘Spursy’ – despite their fast end to the season.
He said: “I see other teams go through situations, but there isn’t a word for them. Yeah, we can shake it off at Norwich but then next year we will have a result and it will be back.
“In the last six or seven years, we’ve had incredible highs where the club has never been before.
“And then two days later ‘Spursy’ will come back after a certain result. It will always be there.”
An unlikely Spurs defeat at Carrow Road and a home win for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal over Everton is not a palatable thought for Dier.
“I remember last season, we drew at Crystal Palace and it felt like the end of the world,” recalled Dier, 28.
“That’s something, as a group of players, we spoke about this season.
“We learned from that – where results felt like the end of the world and looking at the table was scary.
“You try to maintain an emotional consistency, not get too down in those moments, because things change. You have to believe they will, because they change in the Premier League more than in any other.”
That is a timely skill to develop for Arsenal and Tottenham, given how often the great rivals have swapped pole position in the race for fourth.
First, Arsenal were nailed on to take it, then Spurs. Then the Gunners again – before the current scenario where Spurs need a win or a draw.
Dier added: “In the space of 10 games, there have been three swings back and forth. As I say, consistency is the big thing.”