Conte is the easy target in Spurs mess... but Kane and Richarlison need to take a look at themselves
IT’S inevitable the finger will be pointed at Antonio Conte after Tottenham’s lame Champions League exit, and for good reason.
I’ve said before, Spurs have a style, a history, a philosophy – and it’s not being cautious in the home leg of a knockout tie when you’re already a goal down.
I don’t believe Conte’s DNA is the same as the club’s, so it’s always going to be an awkward fit. But then, I’d also raise some serious questions about the attitude of their players.
They’re the ones out there on the pitch, the ones who have the chance of a Champions League quarter-final, playing against a good, but most definitely not great, AC Milan side.
Forget the excuses, forget the tactical fit. It’s your career, go out and grab it no matter what. And c’mon. Stop the moaning until you’ve actually done something to justify it.
Yeah, I’m looking at Richarlison.
I’m the first to understand the frustrations of not playing. Honestly, in my career, that was always the driving factor. It drove me mad if I was dropped.
I had massive rows with Gerard Houllier when he preferred Michael Owen and Emile Heskey to me, and it was very well documented at the end of my career. I would challenge you now though, to find any words from me similar to those Richarlison issued after the midweek defeat, when I was still at Liverpool.
I hated it, but I pretty much did my talking on the pitch.
If you look back, my goals-to-starts ratio was just about the best at the club when we won the Treble. I didn’t start in the FA Cup Final or the UEFA Cup Final, but played a big role in both from the bench.
I’m not bigging myself up, I’m explaining what you need as a professional.
You have to
be ready to show the coaches with your performances when the chance comes.
I did that in a European final. Has Richarlison? Nope, he’s been pretty woeful this season when he’s played.
Two goals all season in 24 appearances isn’t good enough.
He hadn’t scored a single goal in the Premier League before his outburst.
Ryan Sessegnon has as many goals as he does, with fewer appearances. Hell, even Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has outscored him three to one.
So he’s talking a good game. And that’s it. That’s not a £60million player’s contribution, believe me.
I’d also take a look at Harry Kane too. He’s doing it on the pitch, no question. Scoring the
goals. But is he leading properly, is he taking the responsibility when Conte’s instincts are out?
I know that sounds harsh when he’s got 20 goals again already this season. But I was watching Spurs’ FA Cup tie at Sheffield United, and wondering what the hell he was doing on the bench?
I know that’s the manager’s decision, but c’mon. He’s club captain, they’re desperate for him to stay. He surely could have said he wanted to start – he has that hold over the club, and they’d never have a better chance of silverware than the FA Cup this season.
They seem to have collapsed since that defeat. Woeful at Wolves, even worse against AC Milan. Maybe he’ll reflect he should have started that night in Sheffield. Sometimes it’s not always about the manager – players also have to take responsibility.
Of course, I think that he’ll leave at the end of the season, he has to, and there will be massive clubs watching his situation.
But there was so much at stake for him in his career before then.
Now the chance of a trophy has gone, and the top four could also be in danger. That is not the way to leave the club that you’ve played for your
whole life.
Richarlison hadn’t scored a goal in the Prem before his outburst... that’s not a £60m player’s contribution