Tottenham Hotspur defender Matt Doherty thankful for manager Antonio Conte giving him more game time
As quoted by the club’s official matchday programme (h/t football.london), Tottenham Hotspur defender Matt Doherty has praised head coach Antonio Conte for trusting in him and giving him more game time on the pitch in recent weeks.
Doherty most recently started in Spurs’ 2-0 loss to Wolves last night, with the wing-back unable to prevent his side from suffering a third straight defeat in the league, denting their Champions League hopes.
The Republic of Ireland international, who moved to north London from Wolves in 2020, said that he feels more confident and consistent in his performances since Conte played him more often in the league.
“I feel though, until you’re starting games consistently in the league, you don’t get that rhythm, that confidence. I think my performances are getting better. l am becoming a little bit more consistent in the times that l am playing. l just want to keep doing that.”
Doherty played an important role recently in Spurs’ 3-2 win over Leicester City, coming on as a half-time substitute and picking up the assist for Steven Bergwijn‘s equaliser in the dying minutes of the game, before the Dutchman scored once again to hand Tottenham all three points in the end.
Repaying Conte’s trust
The former Wolves man is not first-choice under Conte, with the Italian manager preferring to play summer signing Emerson Royal at right wing-back. Although this has led to reduced activity on the pitch for Doherty, Emerson’s inconsistency has opened the door for plenty of opportunities for the Irishman to take advantage of in recent weeks.
Doherty has not seen Conte’s preference for Emerson as a hindrance, but rather was thankful for the head coach to place his trust in the player and being allowed to prove to the ex-Inter Milan manager that he was capable of putting in a shift.
“He’s given me a lot of game time recently and I’m just trying to force my way into the team through training and doing well when I play. The manager has the trust in me to play these other positions and, having that versatility. l can do a job for the team.”
Last night’s game was not Doherty’s best, with the Irishman failing to stop a Wolves attack that made the most of Tottenham shooting themselves in the foot and losing the ball in dangerous areas. The Lilywhites rearguard made a hash of their jobs, contributing to their own downfall.
Despite the loss and poor defensive performance, the 30-year-old will hope that he is able to retain his place in the squad for their next game against defending champions Manchester City. Conte will surely be considering his options carefully for the next fixture.
More Tottenham Hotspur News
- Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte gave his verdict after the loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Antonio Conte opens up on Joe Rodon following Tottenham’s loss against Wolves
- Real Madrid show an emerging interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Sergio Reguilon
The right wing-back has not had the easiest time at Spurs since his move nearly two summers ago, failing to convince his managers of a starting spot in the team. Recent weeks have seen more minutes on the pitch for Doherty, but it cannot be said for sure that he has replaced Emerson in the side.
The player will hope for Conte to continue putting his faith in the defender, hoping to make the most of the chances given to him. All eyes will be on the teamsheet next Saturday to see if Doherty has once again been picked to start in the league.
