Tottenham boss Antonio Conte sends message to Man Utd and Arsenal after Leeds win | Football | Sport
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has warned top four rivals Manchester United and Arsenal that Spurs’ 4-0 win over Leeds on Saturday provided evidence that his methods are beginning to ‘work’. Conte had overseen a disappointing run of four defeats in five matches ahead of the north Londoners’ visit to Elland Road.
The Italian had made a subtle hint that his future might lie away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following Spurs’ 1-0 defeat by Burnley on Wednesday.
His job needed to be ‘assessed’ as part of talks with the club, Conte ominously told reporters.
But Conte – who was appointed last November – remains in charge and guided his side to a 4-0 thrashing of Leeds.
Goals by Matt Doherty, Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min saw off a dismal Leeds team.
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Conte felt that Spurs’ first goal – which saw left wing-back Ryan Sessegnon cross for right wing-back Doherty – was evidence of his methods finally coming to fruition.
The 52-year-old has at times struggled to translate his preferred style of football at Spurs. He has used the 3-4-3 that worked so successfully in his last Premier League spell at Chelsea and Inter Milan.
But Conte believes his message is starting to get across to his players following the demolition of Leeds on Saturday.
“For the first time I have seen my mark, about this system. The creation from one wing-back and the other wing-back scoring,” the Spurs boss told journalists.
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“I asked for this answer, especially after Burnley defeat. We lost that game because the opponents had more desire.”
Spurs had dropped to eighth in the Premier League following that disappointing defeat by Burnley.
But they climbed a place after beating Leeds.
Conte’s side are now only five points off United who occupy fourth and still need to play the Red Devils and north London rivals Arsenal, who are fifth.
