Antonio Conte: Tottenham Hotspur are not thinking about sacking me
Antonio Conte has clarified that his comments about Tottenham Hotspur potentially sacking him were made as a joke.
The Italian manager was clearly infuriated after he was asked to address his future following Spurs’ loss and elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of AC Milan (1-0 aggregate).
He stated that Spurs could sack him in the future when asked what the situation regarding his contract was. His deal expires this summer and he is yet to renew it.
With each passing day, it seems more and more possible that the former Chelsea and Juventus manager will walk. Asked to clarify his recent comments, Conte replied at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Southampton (h/t Evening Standard):
“[My comment] was a provocation, you understand, about my future. A provocation, a joke, ‘una battuta’. When you tell something, to joke. You [the media] asked me about the future and I said to you that you don’t know what happens. Because maybe the club can sack me.
“But I repeat: I don’t think the club is thinking this. The club sees everyday what me and my staff, we are doing for this club. It was only an answer about my future… Football is really strange. you don’t know what happens tomorrow. But I repeat: in my opinion we try in every moment to do everything, me and my staff.
“And I think the club appreciates this. Because if you continue to ask me if I sign a new contract, it means that maybe the club appreciates what we are doing, the work that we doing, in this one year and a half.”
With each interview he gives, the writing seems to be on the wall. Why would a manager delay contract talks until so late if he is really committed to the cause at N17? Could it be a strategy to strongarm Daniel Levy to be backed in a better manner in the transfer market?
No one can say that for sure right now apart from Conte himself. And he seems to be finding new ways to dodge and evade the question every week. There is still no clarity.
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His comments also hint at the fact that Spurs want him to renew his deal. Make no mistake, there won’t be a shortage of managers for Tottenham if there is an opening. But if Conte walks after just one-and-a-half years here, it would be a very, very odd appointment done by the club.
