Antonio Conte wants change at Tottenham Hotspur and not just in terms of players. Ahead of his sides home Premier League tie against Everton, Conte spoke of his frustrations at Spurs’ lack of consistency and it is an issue that has disrupted the club for many years. The question it raises is how much patience will Conte have in trying to affect change and deliver success.
Inconsistency Frustrates as Antonio Conte Wants Change
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
When Spurs beat Manchester City at the Etihad, it appeared that they had turned a corner after three successive league defeats had left their top four hopes in tatters. Harry Kane delivered one of the astounding forward performances of the season and optimism seemed to be returning to the team at last. Then in true Tottenham style they went to Burnley on a cold and wet midweek night and lost 1-0. Kane hardly featured and it was typical of Spurs not just under Conte but typical of them for decades.
Tottenham have always had the ability to win against the odds, think Ajax in the Champions League semi final of 2019 but that ability fails to be turned into major progress. Under Mauricio Pochettino Spurs challenged for the title, finishing second and third but couldn’t turn progress into success, losing the Champions League final to Liverpool as well as FA Cup semi final and league cup final defeats.
Ups and Downs for Antonio Conte
Following the Burnley defeat, Spurs then beat Leeds United 4-0 but in typical fashion then went to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and were knocked out, leading to Conte telling the media:
“Tottenham’s story is this, many ups and downs. To be competitive and try to win something and try to fight for something important and to become a strong team, the first thing that has to happen is to be stable and to avoid these ups and downs.”
Conte identified that this story has remained unchanged for 20 years;
“To do this and to change this type of situation that has been for many, many years is not simple. In a short term it is impossible to do this, not only me but for every manager to come here and change the situation. This story of this club for the last 20 years.”
Five Defeats in Eight
Conte needs to change Spurs’ fortunes quickly. With silverware now off the table for yet another season, top four and Champions League qualification is all that remains to be fought for but if they don’t find some consistency soon they could find themselves without European football at all.
Spurs sit five points from the top four with two games in hand but are also only seven points above ninth place Southampton who recently took all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
As so often with Tottenham and a fact that really demonstrates Conte’s point, they sit close to measured success which top four would undoubtedly be but also close to abject failure, too.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
