Hojbjerg calls on Conte to 'elaborate' on player accusations
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg calls on Antonio Conte to ‘elaborate’ after the Tottenham boss accused his players of lacking professionalism in THAT extraordinary rant… as Spurs weigh up whether to sack the Italian in the international break
- The Spurs midfielder would like his manager to be ‘more precise’ with criticism
- Tottenham’s candidates to replace Antonio Conte ‘share his doubts’
- Chairman Daniel Levy is preparing to SACK Conte during the international break
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will wait for manager Antonio Conte to ‘elaborate’ on comments made during his astonishing 10-minute rant following Tottenham’s limp draw against Southampton on Saturday before passing judgement.
The Danish player started at St Mary’s during Saturday’s match, and as such found himself in the firing line as his manager lambasted his players and offered a damning indictment on the club as a whole.
Along with questioning the professionalism of his players, and suggesting they too often received ‘excuses’ for poor performances, Conte said that ‘Tottenham’s story’ was an unwillingness to ‘play under pressure’, something that was responsible for their ‘twenty years’ without a trophy.
But the 27-year-old midfielder was more measured in his response to the post-match interview, stating in Danish outlet Tipsbladet that he needed his coach’s criticisms to be a ‘a little more precise’.
‘I think we’ve all seen it,’ the player answered in response to whether he had heard his manager’s astonishing remarks.
Antonio Conte’s rant after drawing against Southampton has had lasting consequences
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg accepts that his manager is unsatisfied, but requires him to elaborate
‘He gave a very honest and very open press conference. It is because he is not satisfied. You don’t do that if you’ve reached the quarter-final of the Champions League and if you’re in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
‘It comes from the fact that, unfortunately, we did not get the results we as a team and club wanted. We are still where we want and need to be in the Premier League. But yes, it’s hard.’
Spurs currently sit fourth in the Premier League, but Newcastle and Liverpool in fifth and sixth respectively have two games in hand over the north London club.
‘I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing,’ Hojbjerg added.
Under Conte, whose contract expires in May, Spurs have lost seven of their 17 games in 2023.
Sub-par performances in March ensured that their season will end trophy-less after a disappointing exit in the Champions League against AC Milan and 1-0 loss against Sheffiled United in the FA Cup.
‘The coach has not been satisfied, and that is what I take from it,’ the player, who has been at the club since 2020, finished.
‘You do what you can to please him. What I do know about myself is that I am an honest player. I am a player who always gives 100 per cent of myself for the team.
‘If that’s how he sees it, then you have to be a little more precise in order for you as a player to take it to heart.’
The 27-year-old is currently training with Denmark in preparation for their Euro 2024 qualifiers
Spurs crashed out of the FA Cup against Sheffield (pictured), and a loss to AC Milan at home ended their hope of silverware this season
Conte is said to have spoken to the club hierarchy after the outburst and assured them that his words were directed solely at the players, rather than the club and the owners.
He has since left England during the Premier League’s international break and returned to his home country.
Chairman Daniel Levy is currently deciding whether the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager stays in his position, which will be largely dependent on whether the club feels he can still motivate his squad.
Whether keeping the manager will help or harm the club’s chances of playing Champions League football next season will also be heavily under consideration.
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