Antonio Conte launched into a blistering rant criticizing the Tottenham players and the board following their 3-3 draw against Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
The North London side looked certain for a routine victory when they led 3-1 with 15 minutes left, but Southampton did not give up and scored twice to grab something from the game.
The last goal came from a last-gasp penalty as the match ended in a three-all draw.
The result meant that Tottenham dropped crucial points in their hopes for a top-four finish.
Spurs sit fourth with 49 points and have just a two-point advantage over Newcastle in fifth, but they have played two extra games.
At the press conference, the Spurs manager didn’t hold back. The Italian blasted his players for failing to deliver in crucial stages this campaign while he also called them selfish in an incredible rant.
Conte said, “I’m really upset because this is not the first time and I think today I can tell you that this is upset because we are winning 3-1 and 15 minutes to go and I think you have to win.”
Conte also said that the players don’t deliver as a team with everyone thinking about themselves. “When you are in this way that can happen, you lose against Sheffield United and drop the FA Cup and with AC Milan and to finish that run you’re winning 3-1 and the last 15 you are able to give them the possibility to come back. I don’t see the sense of responsibility of the players.”
The 52-year-old continued, “Now it’s difficult — we are working hard with this group and to move in the right direction. We are going behind, I see a lot of negative situations and a lot of selfish situations and players that I don’t like. I know the way to beat teams, in the past I beat a lot of teams, winning teams.”
Conte also took aim at the club’s ownership in his blistering rant, “They’re used to it here. Don’t play for something important.
They don’t want to play under pressure. They don’t want to play under stress. Tottenham’s story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something. Why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”
The manager closed, saying, “It is time to change this situation if Tottenham want to change. If they want to continue in this way, they can change the manager, a lot of managers, but the situation cannot change. Believe me.”
Photo Credit: Imago / PA Images
