“Our season will be tough..” – Tottenham boss Antonio Conte on Spurs’ defeat to Southampton


“Our season will be tough..” – Tottenham boss Antonio Conte on Spurs’ defeat to Southampton

A disappointing Antonio Conte lamented Tottenham’s ‘mistakes’ on the ball following the side’s 3-2 defeat to Southampton, the second in a row and admitted that the season will be tough ahead. Having gone ahead, Tottenham failed to hold on to the lead as the Saints staged a very deserving comeback scoring twice late in the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the game, the Tottenham boss Antonio Conte said the mental instability within his Tottenham squad was to blame for their 3-2 defeat to Southampton.

“For sure, we have to be disappointed,” he said. “They were good but I think we made many, many mistakes, especially with the ball, and I think this type of situation creates a bit of mental instability in my team.

“In the second half, then, we started to play, we started to press in the right way and then we created chances to score.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We also did that in the first half because every time we play the ball in the right way, we created a situation to go and score, but I repeat, we made many mistakes in the first half – important mistakes.

“In the second half, we did well, scored, but then we had to be better to defend.

“I have seen the two goals and we conceded two goals with the defensive line had to stay there. We need to be more accurate but I know very well that this season we are going to struggle to get three points and I said this before and I continue to repeat it.

Also read: Top 5 Players With Most UEFA Player Of The Year Award

ADVERTISEMENT

Antonio Conte feels the Tottenham players are too emotional

Antonio Conte Tottenham

The Tottenham manager further mentioned that the team is improving but players are “too emotional”.

“For sure, I think we are now improving in many aspects but we are still too emotional.

“Against Leicester, we won 3-2 and we were losing 2-1. Today, we were winning 2-1 and we lost 3-2.

“I think on this aspect, we have to improve because if we want to grow as a team and try to be competitive, the first thing we have to improve is to be stable, not up and down, up and down.

ADVERTISEMENT

“In a team, it’s also important to have players with experience, to manage the situation during the game.

“But I repeat it was a pity because my players they gave 120 per cent and the effort was maximum. I cannot say that I didn’t see the right attitude, or that I didn’t see the right commitment, because I saw the maximum.

“We have to try to avoid defeats like this. I think today we could have avoided this defeat. Especially when you go 2-1 and there are 15 minutes or 20 minutes to play, we have to try to manage the situation in a better way. We have to take experience from this game and try to improve.

“We have to struggle and give 120 per cent, and I repeat the effort today was the maximum. I can’t tell you that my players’ effort was not good, the commitment was not good – no.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I have to tell thanks to my players because the commitments was top. But then you know you have to improve in many, many aspects – and we have a long, long road in front of us.”

Talking about the season ahead, the Tottenham manager said that the players need to understand that season will be tough ahead.

He said, “Our season will be tough. We have to know this.

“I’m pleased with the commitment of my players. I ask them [for] good personality [on the field].

ADVERTISEMENT

“During the game, you can make mistakes [but] we have to try and reduce [the mistakes].”

Antonio Conte’s men will be up against Wolves in their next match in the Premier League.

Also read: Top 5 Players With Most Player Of The Year Award in Ligue 1