Antonio Conte had a disorderly tenure as Tottenham boss, resulting in sharp criticisms of the club’s players, owners, and culture. Now the Napoli manager, believes that he achieved the “maximum possible” during his time at Spurs and highlights the team’s decline since his departure. Conte spent nearly 18 months in charge, arriving with the goal of securing European football and breaking Tottenham’s long-standing trophy drought.
Conte successfully guided Tottenham into the Champions League during his first season, but things quickly deteriorated in his final weeks. He inherited a squad featuring talents like Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, yet he asserts that the club expected him to perform “miracles.” Conte believes he maximised the potential of the team, having only one summer transfer window to work with, and points to their inability to qualify for the Champions League after his sudden departure as a significant setback.
Conte believes the expectations set for him was too high
In his final weeks, Conte became visibly frustrated and began to blame others for the team’s struggles. Tottenham suffered a disappointing FA Cup exit to Sheffield United, and his frustration reached a boiling point when they squandered a two-goal lead at Southampton, ending the match in a 3-3 draw. The Italian openly criticised the club, chairman Daniel Levy, and the prevailing culture at the north London club, which ultimately left the club with no choice but to part ways with him.
Speaking to DAZN, The Italian noted
“I realise there are expectations, but if you go where there are difficulties… I think Tottenham did incredibly well, because they were ninth when I arrived and we got into the Champions League. The two years after I left, which was for personal reasons, they did not qualify for the Champions League.
“I think I achieved a lot there too. If people ask me for miracles, then I can speed them up and get the best out of the squad, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we can win. I think I got the maximum possible out of that Tottenham side.”
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Conte’s reflections on Tottenham highlight a deeper issue within the club, as he questions the mentality of players who shy away from pressure and accountability for their lack of success over the past two decades. Now at Napoli, where he currently leads the team at the top of Serie A, Conte sees a different dynamic. After a challenging previous season that saw Napoli finish 10th, he believes the club is ahead of schedule in its pursuit of success, indicating a renewed sense of ambition and drive under his management.
