Antonio Conte launches explosive broadside at 'selfish' Tottenham players and owner Daniel Levy
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Updated 18/03/2023 at 21:18 GMT
Antonio Conte has launched an explosive broadside at his Tottenham players and the owners of the club after his side threw away a two-goal lead at Southampton in the Premier League. The Tottenham manager said his charges were “selfish” players, who “don’t play with heart”. The former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager then turned his attentions to the direction of the club.
'It's unacceptable' - Conte to players after 3-3 draw at Southampton
Antonio Conte has called Tottenham players “selfish” adding the club have won nothing in 20 years under the current ownership after his side threw away a two-goal lead against Southampton.
Spurs led 3-1 with 74 minutes on the clock after Ivan Perisic added to earlier strikes from Pedro Porro and Harry Kane.
However, Theo Walcott cut the arrears just three minutes later and James Ward-Prowse fired a stoppage-time penalty to ensure the match finished 3-3 to deny Spurs three points.
Had Tottenham won, they would have leapfrogged Manchester United into third in the Premier League table. However, a draw means that Spurs remain in fourth – one point below United and two above Newcastle having played two more games than their top-four rivals.
Conte did not hold back in his post-match media commitments.
"The problem is we have shown we are not a team," Conte told BBC's Match of the Day. "We are 11 players. I see selfish players. I see players that don’t want to help each other, don’t play with heart."
Conte would then take aim at the direction of the club in his press conference.
"They're used to it here,” he added. “Don't play for something important.
"They don't want to play under pressure. They don't want to play under stress. Tottenham's story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something. Why?
"The fault is only for the club or for every manager that stays here? And I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.
"You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation. In every moment.
"Until now I tried to hide the situation but now no because, I repeat, I don't want to see what I have seen today, because this is unacceptable.
"Also for the respect for the fans. They follow us, pay the tickets. And to see the team, another time, to have this type of performance, for me, I repeat, this is unacceptable."
Conte is widely expected to leave his role as Tottenham manager at the end of the season.
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