EPL

Conte 'enjoying every single moment' as he nears Spurs anniversary

By Sports Desk October 28, 2022

Antonio Conte says he is "enjoying every single moment" at Tottenham as he nears a year in charge of the Premier League club.

Conte, appointed in November 2021, has not always portrayed his time in London in quite such a positive light, outlining the need for improvement and investment in order to seriously challenge.

Meanwhile, his Spurs contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

But ahead of Saturday's match with Bournemouth – Tottenham's final league game before November 2, the date on which Conte was appointed last year – the Italian spoke in glowing terms of his "adventure".

"I always say that I am enjoying my time in Tottenham," he said. "In one year, we had a great path together, with the club, the players, the fans and you [media].

"I think I am enjoying every single moment in my adventure in Tottenham. For sure, I discover a modern club, a club with a fantastic training ground and an amazing stadium.

"[I discovered] the passion of the fans, at the same time the demands of our fans – the demand is very high. I continue to enjoy every day."

Conte has guided Tottenham to third, although he and the club approach his anniversary on a tough run.

Spurs lost consecutive Premier League matches to top-six rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United, before they were held by Sporting CP in the Champions League as a late Harry Kane winner was struck off.

Conte fumed after that decision, which followed a lengthy VAR delay deep into stoppage time, and he had no interest in reframing his thoughts on Friday.

"I said what I said," he told reporters, adding: "I didn't change my mind."

Tottenham had already been frustrated by the officiating in the Newcastle defeat, as Hugo Lloris complained he was fouled in an incident involving Callum Wilson that led to the opening goal.

Spurs appealed at length to the referee, only for the goal to be awarded regardless, and the Football Association confirmed on Friday the club had accepted a £20,000 fine for "failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".

Related items

  • Luton boss Edwards urges Hatters to keep the faith in Premier League relegation scrap Luton boss Edwards urges Hatters to keep the faith in Premier League relegation scrap

    Rob Edwards urged his Luton Town team and the club's supporters to keep the faith as the Hatters aim to stay in the Premier League.

    A 1-1 draw with Everton at home on Friday was not the result Luton truly needed as they look to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

    It moved Luton onto 26 points, level with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who face already-relegated Sheffield United on Saturday.

    Forest could yet be in to get some of the four points they were deducted for a breach of the Premier League's financial rules back, however, with a decision on their appeal expected to arrive in the coming days.

    Edwards hinted at that uncertainty in his comments after the Everton game, as he asked his team to keep going.

    He said: "We wanted a win. We threw everything at it. We tried. We were the team pushing right until the end.

    "In the end a draw wasn't what we wanted. I'm proud of the players, the club, the supporters. They stayed with us until the end. We tried to do all the right things. We're still in the mix.

    "On another day we could have won the game but we didn't. We've got to keep going. We don't have a crystal ball. It might be four points, five, six. It might be enough. We've got to believe it is, [so] we go again."

    Luton head to West Ham next week, before hosting Fulham on the final day of the season.

    Everton, who took the lead through Dominic Calvert-Lewin's penalty but were pegged back by Elijah Adebayo's strike, were already sure of their Premier League status heading into Friday's match.

    Asked if he had a preference on which team out of Forest, Luton and his former club Burnley avoided the drop, Sean Dyche told reporters: "No one cared about us at Everton when we were down there last season, so they will have to fight it out.

    "We had to fight it out last season and take care of ourselves, all the clubs will have to fight it out.

    "We took care of ourselves again this season with many challenges and I am very proud of that, but it is not for choosing ifs, buts and maybes and sides.

    "I have been down there myself and you have to take care of yourself. No one gives you anything, they have all got to fight it out and see who gets the job done.”

  • Spurs 'need change', says Postecoglou Spurs 'need change', says Postecoglou

    Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has conceded Spurs "need change" after a poor run of form has seen their Champions League hopes fade.

    Spurs sit fifth in the Premier League, but a sorry performance against Chelsea in a 2-0 loss on Thursday left them seven points behind Aston Villa.

    Tottenham have lost their last three matches, conceding nine goals, though those defeats have come against Newcastle United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

    And while Postecoglou has had a promising first season, he stressed the requirement for changes to Spurs' playing squad if they are to settle wholly into his preferred style of play.

    "We need change. Change has to happen," Postecoglou said ahead of Sunday's clash with Liverpool.

    "We're pivoting to a whole different direction, expecting the same people are going to be in on that... it's just not going to happen.

    "We've had two windows and we've had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we've still got a long way to go, that's what I'm talking about.

    "We can't be there yet because it's impossible to say you're going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey... whether it's Liverpool or Arsenal, by the time they win the competition or have success, the team's almost unrecognisable."

    Richarlison, who enjoyed a rich run of form earlier in the campaign but has not scored since netting twice against his former club Everton in February, is one of the players who Spurs will reportedly listen to offers for in the upcoming transfer window.

    After playing Liverpool, Spurs face Burnley and Manchester City before rounding off their campaign against already-relegated Sheffield United.

  • Terzic will rotate with Champions League qualification secured Terzic will rotate with Champions League qualification secured

    Borussia Dortmund can rotate their side for this weekend's game with Augsburg after their win over Paris Saint-Germain in midweek secured Germany a fifth place in next season's Champions League.

    Those are the thoughts of coach Edin Terzic ahead of Saturday's home game.

    Dortmund are fifth in the Bundesliga, and with a 12-point gap over Eintracht Frankfurt and three games remaining, they are guaranteed a place in the Champions League, and can concentrate on the semi-final second leg against PSG on Tuesday, with a 1-0 advantage.

    Terzic told reporters: "Obviously we are thinking about having energy and freshness tomorrow. We will rotate as we have done in the past but we will have a very good team on the pitch tomorrow.

    "We will think about freshness. We will also think about giving chances, as there is no huge pressure tomorrow with our minimum goal secured."

    Forward Sebastien Haller remained on the bench for the home win against PSG on Wednesday, and will be rested against Augsburg, but others who were involved should make an appearance, even if not for the full game.

    "Rotation does not mean someone will not play at all but that you can spilt up participation times," Terzic said.

    "We came through Wednesday's game pretty well. Only Sebastien Haller didn't feel well in the warm-up, we won't risk him for tomorrow but he is fine for next week."

    Despite there being less pressure, Dortmund should still have plenty of motivation against Augsburg, especially after their 4-1 defeat at RB Leipzig last weekend and with just one win in their last four league games.

    "It is a Bundesliga game at home and we have to do a bit better, especially at home. We have one month, and we have to show good performances and tomorrow everyone on the pitch can show how valuable they are for the club," Terzic added.

    "If we have to talk about motivating them to play in front of 81,000 in the Bundesliga against Augsburg then we have a problem."

    Dortmund are on 57 points, six behind Leipzig, while Augsburg are ninth in the standings on 39 points.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.