SOUTHAMTPON, March 19 — Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte tore into his “selfish” gamers, indicating they “didn’t want to play below pressure” just after they squandered a opportunity to go third in the Premier League with a 3-3 draw Saturday absent to base-of-the-table Southampton.
Spurs ended up on study course to safe an essential gain in their quest for Champions League qualification when Ivan Perisic scored in the 74th minute after previously objectives by Pedro Porro and Harry Kane.
The guests led 3-1 at that phase, soon after Che Adams had cancelled out Porro’s opener.
But the Saints strike back again, with Theo Walcott chopping the deficit in the 77th moment right before James Ward-Prowse’s stoppage-time penalty extended Spurs’ winless operate on the street to 5 matches.
Tottenham’s new defeats by AC Milan and Sheffield United noticed them exit the Champions League and FA Cup respectively to assure the club have now gone 15 a long time with no a significant trophy.
Conte was in no mood to spare his squad’s inner thoughts all through a 10-moment tirade at St Mary’s, with Tottenham now just two factors in advance of Newcastle, who have two video games in hand, in the race for the fourth and final Champions League area.
“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to support each individual other and really do not place their coronary heart (in),” he reported.
“Why? For the reason that they are used to it listed here, they are utilised to it. They do not engage in for some thing crucial yeah. They really do not want to enjoy under stress, they really do not want to engage in beneath pressure.
“It is quick in this way. Tottenham’s tale is this. 20 decades there is the operator and they under no circumstances received one thing but why? The fault is only for the club, or for just about every supervisor that stays right here. I have witnessed the supervisors that Tottenham experienced on the bench.”
‘Unacceptable’
But the 53-year-old Italian, previously in charge of Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan, as effectively as the Italy nationwide workforce, did convey sympathy for Spurs’ very long-suffering supporters.
“Until now check out to conceal the scenario but now, no simply because I repeat, I do not want to see what I have found today for the reason that this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the followers,” he included.
“They follow us, fork out for their ticket and to see the staff a different time, to have this kind of effectiveness is unacceptable.”
Tottenham’s acquire around Nottingham Forest previous 7 days experienced been one thing of a morale improve, even if Conte’s long term remained unsure presented his deal expires immediately after the finish of the season.
But the supervisor insisted speculation in excess of his place was simply just an additional “alibi” for an below-carrying out group.
“I see only 11 players that play for on their own,” he claimed.
“There are 10 game titles to go and some individuals assume we can fight. Struggle for what with this spirit, this mind-set, this commitment? What? For seventh, eighth, 10th area? I am not made use of to this position.
“I’m definitely upset and everyone has to consider their obligation. Not only the club, the manager and the staff members, the players have to be concerned in this predicament mainly because it is time to transform this circumstance if Tottenham want to modify.
“If they want to continue on in this way, they can improve the manager, a lot of administrators, but the problem cannot improve. Believe me.” — AFP