Eric Dier gives insight into “calm” Antonio Conte behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur
Eric Dier has revealed that Antonio Conte has a contrasting “calm” nature behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur. The boss is well known for his expressive behaviour and highly passionate antics on the touchline, but Dier says there is a different side to him as well.
Conte has instilled a touch of passion and grit into the Tottenham squad since joining them back in November. His identity can be seen in the team’s performances, but Dier has expressed that that is down to his composed behaviour as well when he directly engages with the players during meetings.
Speaking in an interview with BT Sport (h/t Football.London), the English defender has conveyed that Conte’s intense behaviour can usually be noticed during matches and training sessions, but he is “very calm” during half-time talks and team meetings to convey his message to the players.
“It is a big contrast him on the touchline and training pitch to him off it. At half-time and in meetings at training he is very calm and gets his message across very clearly, but passionately always, but on the training pitch and on the touchline he is so aggressive and intense.”
Greater connection with the players
It is good to see that Conte realises how it is important to be composed when sending a clear message. After all, the players have to clearly understand the instructions given by the Italian coach, which should take priority over how they were expressed.
At the same time, having an open personality also offers the 52-year-old manager the ability to deal with players with different mindsets. All of them would not react to a passionate display in the same way as some would be much more reactive to a much more composed message.
It is quite necessary that the former Inter Milan man can build these connections with his players to build a cohesive team. That seems to be happening at this moment, as Dier did mention that they are enjoying working with Conte and his coaching team as well.
Under Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure, there was seemingly a lack of togetherness within the team, which was evident in the North Londoners’ displays. Conte has come in and changed that as he has instilled a fighting mentality into the squad.
Daniel Levy and co are looking to build a strong project under Conte for a better future. Lifting the squad’s quality through additions in the transfer market is one way to go about business. However, that will not be enough as it is also important to have a healthy environment within the squad, which Conte is trying to make with his man-management skills.
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Let’s hope to see this continue moving forward, with Conte looking set to enjoy his first full campaign at N17 next term. He would need to do the same with the signings that will be made this summer. That seems to be an easy task, looking at how he has made such an impact in a short period.
As long as he has the dressing room on his side and a board that tries to back him, Conte would perhaps be one of the best men we could have appointed to end our long-standing trophy drought.
