MY ACCOUNT
Antonio Conte has apologised for his emotional outburst following the defeat to Burnley that left his Tottenham future looking uncertain.
Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, their fourth defeat in five league matches.
Conte, who replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in November, was unbeaten in his first nine top-flight matches in charge of Spurs, but that honeymoon period was followed by a frustrating few weeks.
In the wake of the loss to lowly Burnley, Conte suggested Spurs were exhibiting relegation form, that the club needed to make an “assessment about me” and that he was unsure if he was good enough to improve Spurs’ fortunes.
But speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds United, Conte appeared to back-track, his comments seemingly just made in the spur of the moment.
“For sure, when I lose a game I am not the person to go and have a dinner. I think that I am not the right person, when I lose a game my mood is very bad and I prefer to stay alone and live the defeat, to stay alone and metabolise the defeat,” he said.
“I need one day to recover, at least. This is me. It is me. I don’t like to lose. If you ask me what I hate in life, it is to lose games. My mentality is to prepare myself, to prepare the players and to avoid this type of situation.
“There are many coaches that don’t suffer [after a defeat]. I wanted to be a little soft but at the same time to be this way makes me a person that in his career I won as a player and then as a coach.
“For sure, when I lose, if you expect that I am happy or to come to a press conference and laugh, I am not this person.
“I am sorry if I show my disappointment because maybe it would be good to keep this inside and not show my emotion. I am an honest person it is difficult for me to lie or hide the truth and for this reason.”
Conte also confirmed that he has since spoken to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, and it would seem both men are on the same page.
“Yes, I spoke to Daniel Levy. Our chairman knows very well that I’m here to help the club in every moment. I will do that until the end,” Conte continued.
“That’s the reality and he knows that we’re working hard. He has great consideration about our job and the job of my staff.
“I repeat I want to help the club with every aspect. He shows me great consideration every day and for this reason I’m committed for this club much more because I know the consideration for me is very high.
“The club confirmed to me that they know the reality. The club is very happy about my work and what we’re doing with my staff, the change that we made in four months in the environment.
“I think the club is appreciating very much what we’re doing in this moment. The problem is that I’m a perfectionist. I’m a person that wants to get to a result quickly.”
Spurs head into the weekend in eighth, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who have played two games more.
But bitter rivals Arsenal may well be the club they need to focus on catching, given they are just a point behind United and also have two games in hand on Ralf Rangnick’s men – Conte, however, stressed the need to concentrate on the immediate future.
“I’m a realistic person and for now the most important thing is the present and not look forward too much,” he said.
“We have to finish this season. We are working very hard and we deserve much more. The players at the club, especially our fans, deserve the best and for us to make them happy.
“It’s important to be focused now. We’re working well and we’ve started to go in the right direction despite negative or positive results. Also for the future, there is more clarification. To clean the situation and then to continue to build.”
