MY ACCOUNT
Former Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate is stunned that Tottenham managed to hire Antonio Conte as their manager, and believes the Italian has Spurs supporters in the “palm of his hand”.
Conte, who left Inter after guiding them to the Serie A title last season, was appointed by Spurs on November 2 following the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo.
He has overseen an upturn in their fortunes since then, with Spurs winning six of their 10 Premier League games to force their way back into contention for a Champions League qualification place.
Woodgate, who played for Tottenham between 2008 and 2011, is in awe of Conte’s managerial record and says the Spurs hierarchy should give him whatever he wants as he bids to cement the north London club as serious top-four contenders.
“I don’t know how they got Conte to be honest with you,” he exclusively told Stats Perform. “I don’t know how they got him because he’s the best manager Spurs will have. Period.
“I think he’s an incredible manager. What he did at Chelsea, what he did at Inter, what he did at Juventus, he’s managed the national team.
“He signed a contract to the end of next season, so it’ll be interesting to see what the off-season brings because I think if it doesn’t bring the players that he wants, then it’s going to be very interesting.
“And we know what type of character Antonio Conte is. We know what he’s like. He’s ruthless in his thinking, he’s ruthless in what he wants to do.
“Look what he did last year with Inter, they won the league and he didn’t get something in his own way so he left. Because it’s either his way or no one’s, really. So that’s going to be interesting how that plays out.
“He’s got the Spurs fans in the palm of his hand. They absolutely adore him, they’re eating out of the palm of his hand, because they see his passion on the sideline.
“And I think that signing of Conte can only bring good times back to Spurs if he’s backed and if he gets the right players that he wants.”
Despite the signings of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus on transfer deadline day, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy continues to receive criticism from supporters for a perceived lack of investment in the playing squad.
Woodgate, though, thinks Levy deserves more respect for what he has achieved at the club.
“I think everyone needs to start getting off his back, because what he’s done for Tottenham has been incredible, really,” he added.
“Bringing Mauricio Pochettino to the club for starters, was a masterstroke. So let’s think of what he’s done for the club. The new stadium has been absolutely fantastic. He’s made money for the club. Harry Kane didn’t go; he stopped him from going.
“Spurs have got to be slightly creative in the transfer market, because they’re up against Man City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. So they need to be a little bit creative in who they sign.
“The top players, they have lists, they have categories. So most of these top players are going to be on the top lists of Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea and then where are Spurs going to go? So they can’t go for the top one, because the top clubs are always going to want him.”
