Antonio Conte admits Tottenham are showing relegation form

‘Every game we concede at least two’: Antonio Conte admits Tottenham are showing RELEGATION form after his side shipped four goals in the second half against Man City… and concedes there is no quick fix to his Spurs struggles

  • Antonio Conte has said that his Tottenham side are showing relegation form
  • Spurs have let in 21 goals in their last 10 games having struggled defensively
  • They most recently led 2-0 at half time versus Manchester City but lost 4-2
  • Conte said there is no quick fix to the issues and that improvement is needed 

Antonio Conte has conceded that Tottenham are in relegation form after their defensive chaos continued at Manchester City. 

Spurs’ 4-2 defeat at the Etihad – after they led 2-0 at half-time – means they have now shipped 21 goals in their past 10 Premier League games, a run that has included six defeats and only three victories. 

‘To concede 21 goals in the last 10 games, this is usually a team that fight for a relegation zone,’ Conte said on Friday. ‘Last season I don’t remember how many clean sheets (we had) with Hugo (Lloris) but this season in every game we concede at least two goals (13 Premier League clean sheets last season, just five this season) – this is our medium, our average, like a team that is fighting for the relegation zone.’

Antonio Conte has suggested that Tottenham are showing relegation form in recent times

Spurs most recently led 2-0 at half time against Manchester City but ended up losing 4-2

The manager, whose sides are normally renowned for their solidity, admitted there was no quick fix. Indeed, Conte suggested it required a psychological change rather than any tweaks in selection. ‘It doesn’t depend on the players or a single part. You attack with the whole team and you defend with the whole team. 

‘We have to improve the spirit, the collaboration, the will, the desire, the feeling to suffer also because maybe we have forgotten to suffer and to understand that if we want to win the game then maybe you have to stay there, to suffer like last season. You have to defend the result, the will and desire not to concede a goal.’ 

The Italian insists his side are nevertheless making ‘progress’ and remain ‘in the right direction’ despite Thursday’s defeat leaving them five points off fourth-place Newcastle, who also have a game in hand. Conte was not unhappy with Spurs’ performances in defeat against City and Arsenal but he admitted ‘this is not enough to be considered a top team’. 

Hugo Lloris has kept just five clean sheets so far this season compared to 13 last campaign

He added: ‘We have to find again something that last season we had. I don’t know why for one reason or another this season we maybe lost. We lost something because a team like Tottenham in the last 10 (league) games we conceded 21 goals. This is not possible for a club that wants to stay there, to try to fight and to be competitive.’ 

Conte branded it a ‘miracle’ that Spurs secured Champions League qualification last season. 

The same ‘dream’ remains but the manager insisted it would be ‘stupid’ not to see the challenge of reaching the top four given Tottenham’s struggles of late. 

Conte admitted there is no quick fix to the issue and that improvements are needed

‘The only thing we are doing is the work, we are continuing to work with the players,’ he said. 

‘Then we want to be realistic but at the same time in myself I dream. I dream, I want to play Champions League. 

‘There are 18 games in the Premier League. There is another competition in the FA Cup and for sure in our mind we need to dream of something important. 

‘But at the same time to be realistic because if you are realistic I think that you are not stupid and you understand the work that we have to do something more if the dream is to become a reality.’ 




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