Tottenham coach, Antonio Conte has launched a scathing attack on his ‘selfish’ players following a 3-3 stalemate with Southampton.
Tottenham squandered a 3-1 lead missing the chance to go four points clear of Newcastle in the top four title race. James Ward-Prowse’s 93rd minute penalty snatched a huge result for Southampton in their fight for survival.
Conte was left furios with his players for their late collapse. He further labeled them “selfish” in an extraordinary post-match rant. He said, “I think it’s better to go into the problem. We are not a team. We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players. Players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their hearts”.
It wasn’t just Spurs players who took the brunt of Conte’s fury. The club hierarchy led by head honcho Levy also did. Conte continued, “they’r used to it here. They dont play for something important, they don’t want to play under pressure, they dont want to play under stress.”
“Tottenham’s story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something. Why?”
On attempting to salvage their miserable season , Conte declared, “Now there are 10 games to go. Someone thinks we can fight with this attitude, with this spirit, for what the seventh, eight place? What? I am not used to fighting for this. It’s every one’s responsibility”.
“We have to make our fans proud of us. You have to have desire. The fire in your eyes. If you have this you don’t have this you don’t go out in the FA Cup. Here we are used to for a long time”.
“The club has the responsiblity for the transfer market. The club has the responsibility for the transfer market. The coach has the responsibility for the transfer market. But the players, where are the players? I see only 11 players that play for themselves.” .
Similarly, defender Eric Dier also spoke post-match, telling Premier League Productions: “There will be lots of ups and downs for everybody fighting for top four and relegation. It will definitely go down to the last couple of weeks of the season. We need to find some consistency.”
Tottenham will remain in fourth place during next week’s international break, but Newcastle have two games in hand on them and only need to make up two points thanks to their superior goal difference. While Liverpool also eye a late charge into the Champions League places, there’s huge pressure on Spurs to get over the line before May.
Whether Conte is still in charge to reap the rewards or sift through the wreckage is another matter.