Best Prem double act ...it’s Kane & Son
MOVE OVER DROG & LAMPS
ANTONIO
CONTE pushed
Marcelo Bielsa to the brink – and then repeated his rant about being taken seriously in the Premier League.
The Italian’s pragmatic approach comfortably won the day against his Argentine rival as the two bosses left Elland
Road with vastly different feelings.
And it came on a day when
Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son combined for a Premier League goal for a record 37th time.
In midweek, Conte raised the prospect of cutting short his stay in north London if the club and players couldn’t match his high standards following a dip at Burnley.
But that was never likely yesterday lunchtime as the visitors raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening halfhour, leaving Bielsa with plenty to chew upon as the spectre of relegation unquestionably reared its head.
Rumours abound that Leeds are about to make a change, with former RB Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch taking over.
As for Conte (right), he said: “I wanted to see an improvement. I wanted to see a strong will, mentally and in spirit, and I received a big answer from my players.
“And, for me, it’s not enough to play the game, to enjoy the game, to come back to England and play in the best league in the world. My demands are very high.
“Sometimes I use soft words, sometimes I use strong words, but we
have only one target – to improve.” This may well be Bielsa’s swansong after another defensive horror show. This week, they have conceded 14 times.
In five matches this month, the total rises to 20. Leeds are not giving themselves a platform to work from.
And the Argentine admitted: “Of course, it’s a serious situation.
“No team that suffers successive defeats maintains a confidence in what they are doing. There is a gap between what we are attempting and what is happening.
“The team is giving its all in terms of dedication, but the players are starting to doubt what they are doing.
“Our style of play has been effective – but when the opposite happens, I have to admit that it’s not working.” Conte’s tactics were spot on. Spurs stayed in shape and were ruthless when they broke clear. Harry Winks set the ball rolling, playing it inside Stuart Dallas as Ryan Sessegnon scampered down the left.
The cross was lovely. Matt Doherty supplied a side-foot effort for his first Spurs goal as Jack Harrison trailed in his wake. Five minutes later, it was two when Dejan Kulusevski found a finish as Leeds’ defence went AWOL.
Robin Koch hit the foot of the post – Leeds did have several near misses – but every time Spurs broke, they looked likely to score.
Before the half-hour, the game had been decided.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lifted a delicious ball over the top and Kane supplied a side-foot volley. It could have been worse after the break. Illan Meslier saved a couple of times from Kulusevski and Son.
In the final minutes,
Spurs added a fourth when Son took a Kane pass on his knee before lifting home, and with it a Premier
League landmark.
They combined to overtake Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard (left) – with 36 – as the pair who have assisted one another for the most goals in the competition’s history.
There were a few boos at the end, but Bielsa (right) just about had enough credit for the fans not to turn on him. Whether there remains sufficient confidence in the boardroom is another question.