Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte reflects on the debuts of new signings Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur
Speaking to the press after his side’s FA Cup game last night (h/t football.london), Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte spoke about the performances of his new signings Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, who both made appearances from the bench in the second half.
Spurs ran out 3-1 winners against Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup last night, with striker Harry Kane making sure the club had a comfortable time out on the pitch with a brace. The victory saw the side progress to the next round of the domestic competition.
The game saw Conte hand debuts to his January double signings from former club Juventus, who both got an introduction to the English game with second-half cameos as substitutes. The manager said that he believed the newbies would help the club for the remainder of the campaign.
“For me, tonight to give them the possibility to come in and play for 20-25 minutes was important for Kulusevski and Bentancur. I repeat, two good signings for us and they can help us for the rest of the season.”
With Conte eyeing trophies this season, the Italian will be pleased not only about taking one step closer to winning the FA Cup but also making sure that his new signings get a taste of what the game in England is like. To hand them debuts against a Premier League team like Brighton would also have proven to be a bonus for Conte, as it could help the players realise what is in store for them.
New league experience
After going through almost the entire winter transfer window without any new faces coming through the doors at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs raided Juventus on deadline day for two of their stars. With two incomings in January, the club also saw three loan departures of first-team stars, as Conte looks to make his mark on the squad and turn the team into world-beaters.
Conte talked about how important it is to give young players like Kulusevski and Bentancur an idea of what the game in England is like, so that they can get used to the intensity of the top-flight and adjust accordingly. The Italian stressed on the fact that he believes the duo would help Spurs to finish the season strongly.
It was important also to breathe the atmosphere for the two new signings, for us, for Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur. It was important to come in and to understand the intensity of this league. I repeat, two good players, two young players with talent. They can help us.
Conte has often called out the lack of quality in his team, saying that the club needed to back him in transfer windows and bring in players that he believed could help the side bridge the gap between other teams and compete for silverware.
Bentancur and Kulusevksi have plenty of experience playing in the top-flight despite their relatively young ages. Last night, we saw the duo take to the pitch for the first time in Tottenham colours and perform admirably.
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Conte is a serial winner, with the manager bringing in league titles and trophies at every club he’s managed. If the club is able to provide him with the right tools, then we can rely on the Italian to make the best of the situation and work his magic on the squad to make them strong trophy contenders.
In Kulusevski and Bentancur, Conte has been given players that will solidify his midfield and provide balance to a side that has often struggled for consistency this season. We can hope that last night’s cameos are only the first step in what are successful careers with Tottenham for the former Juventus pair, helping us to win titles, with the FA Cup a realistic target this season.
