MY ACCOUNT
Antonio Conte is ready to “die” for Tottenham until the end of the season but knows fans have run out of patience with him.
The pressure on Conte intensified after Spurs crashed out of the Champions League following a drab goalless draw with Milan on Wednesday.
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 in the first leg at San Siro and could not mount a fightback, bowing out at the round-of-16 stage to dash hopes of ending their 15-year trophy drought.
The London club have lost seven of their 15 games this year and although they occupy fourth place in the Premier League, Liverpool and Newcastle United are hot on their heels.
Conte, who was appointed as head coach in November 2021, is only under contract until the end of June and although it appears unlikely he will remain in the role, the Italian will continue to give his all.
He said on Friday: “You know my opinion and my desire. I’ve said to you a lot of times and during the press conference that the situation I have found – we are far [away from being able] to aspire to be competitive and try to win.
“For a long time I’ve said we need time, we need patience and I see that here the environment has no patience, or maybe the environment doesn’t want to understand the reality.
“If no one wants to understand this and for sure I don’t speak about my future because the club knows very well which is my situation, my thoughts. We can’t do miracles. If I have become to people a target then no, I’m not this person. The reality is this.
“We need time and patience. I understood that here the patience finished for the fans, for the environment and then we’ll see what happens in the future.
“Until the end, I am ready to die for this club, but then we’ll see because I’m not so stupid to continue to kill myself.”
He added: “You know with the club we signed a contract, a strange contract one-year-and-a-half. Usually you sign for three years, but I think it was for the club and for myself to see the situation.
“For the club to understand my personality, my capacity as a coach and for me – from my side it was the same. To understand if we were on the same page.
“Now after one year and a half, the club knows me, I know the club and it is clear this situation. We have to finish the season and then we will see.
“The club knows very well my thoughts. I am ready to die for this club until the end of the season.”
Tottenham will attempt to respond to their Champions League heartbreak by beating Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday.
