Antonio Conte

In today's Football Daily: Tottenham, life off the pitch and beer strengths.

Today’s winner of our letter o’ the day, receiving a copy of Nooruddean Choudry’s [Inshallah United: a story of faith and football](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inshallah-United-story-faith-football/dp/0008522235), is … It was a special event in my local for a series of imperial stouts; there were four, I managed a third of a pint of three and a shot of the fourth, all of which was too much. The problem for Conte is that the results [haven’t been nearly good enough](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/08/predictable-spurs-reach-the-end-in-europe-with-conte-looking-out-of-time) to justify the performances, and especially the style of play. [yesterday’s Football Daily](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/08/football-daily-email-scott-parker-club-brugge)) is an opportunity to share a story about an encounter I had with some 16% beer a few years ago. Tottenham know very well what my thoughts are and at the end of the season we will meet and make a decision. [their tepid Big Cup exit](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/08/tottenham-milan-champions-league-last-16-match-report) against Milan. “The more I find things to do outside football, the better I feel on the pitch. Not me.](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/05/antonio-conte-jose-mourinho-chelsea-manchester-united)” In other news, both were sacked before the end of the year. But Conte is putting together an impressively sustained portfolio of his own, and it looks like he is about to add another sacking to his CV. They’re winners, for one thing, but heaven help the rest of the world when they realise they’re fighting a losing battle. That’s where another shared quality comes in; when it comes to conscientious, passive-aggressive pursuit of the sack, Conte and Mourinho are world leaders. In January 2018, while Manchester City were charging towards the title at record speed, Conte and Mourinho passed the time by slinging thinly-disguised abuse back and forth via the medium of press conferences.

There is nothing to gain by Spurs allowing such a draining partnership to continue any longer.

At times, it was genuinely possible to wonder if Conte and his players were aware that they were 1-0 down. Spurs were worked out by opponents months ago, and the only surprising thing about Conte’s selections is his insistence on picking out-of-form players. Just as in the domestic cup defeats by Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, Spurs have more than enough quality to beat this Milan side, or at least make them sweat.

Chairman Daniel Levy is prepared to stick by Conte with Tottenham's top-four hopes on the line, while Mauricio Pochettino has been identified as a figure ...

Such discussion of course only plays into the feel that the short Conte era is essentially over, which does have some around the club wondering why they don't just get it over with and end it now. [Real Madrid](/topic/real-madrid) were persistently interested in Pochettino throughout that time, and that is where there is a twist here. The Bernabeu job may well be available this summer, with [Carlo Ancelotti](/topic/carlo-ancelotti) expected to leave, and it could be where a few elements finally align. It is why much weight is being given to the atmosphere within the club in the immediate aftermath of the Milan defeat. Spurs still feel like the remnant of the Pochettino era, as if they have never had the overhaul required. The [nature of Wednesday night's elimination to AC Milan](/sport/football/tottenham-ac-milan-score-result-conte-champions-league-b2296904.html) should have been deeply concerning but chairman [Daniel Levy](/topic/daniel-levy) will still only be convinced by a simple equation: If Spurs look like they might miss out on the Champions League next season, they will act.

Tottenham forward Richarlison took aim at manager Antonio Conte after the Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan on Wednesday, picking out several ...

He has completed a full 90 in the league under Conte just once, in the 2-1 victory at home to [Fulham](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fulham-fc) back in September. Richarlison accepted his injury earlier in the season was a factor in a "s***" season, but he might use the two shutouts to make his case for a start against [Nottingham Forest](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/nottingham-forest-fc) next time out. [Players were pushed to the brink of exhaustion](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/tottenham-news-antonio-conte-son-27456427) during Spurs' pre-season tour of South Korea as Conte turned up the pressure. Counter to that, though, the former [He pulled no punches after the elimination](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/richarlison-conte-rant-tottenham-milan-29410471), aiming a string of complaints with comments which may well concern Conte amid a worrying run. Kulusevski and Son, his rivals for the wide forward berths, have both racked up more than twice as many minutes. He scored twice on his [Champions League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/champions-league) debut to secure a win against Marseille, but hasn't netted since amid injury and selection issues. He kept his place against Sheffield United, with Kane rested, but Conte went with Kane through the middle and Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski out wide in the last two games. "Let's see what he will say tomorrow, but there are no fools here either," Richarlison added. "When I enter the field, I give my life," the forward said. All of this begs the question of what happened in that session. Conte's demands for high levels of fitness from his squad have been well-documented, with his double sessions coming into focus at both [Chelsea](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/chelsea-fc) and [Tottenham](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/tottenham-hotspur-fc).

Tottenhams season spiralled further out of control with a Champions League defeat at the hands of AC Milan to leave Antonio Contes days at the club ...

An unwillingness to release the handbrake has resulted in growing frustration. A notable feature of the opening months of this campaign was Conte's reluctance to use a number of the squad at his disposal. While the goals flowed during the final months of last season, a key element for his 3-4-3 formation to work is productive wing-backs and without it his system can struggle.

The former Tottenham midfielder and assistant coach believes the future of Antonio Conte must be clarified before this month ends.

He is not happy because as a player you want to play and score goals, especially as a striker, especially when a team pays that money for you." That is fair and reasonable, but for the players and the fans, it is more important to win a trophy. "At the moment I think everybody might expect a little bit more from him but we need to understand that it has been very difficult for him because of the situation. He has had an injury and he is playing on the left or the right when he does come on which is not helping him either. "Even if he needs to play wide because of Harry Kane, he needs to play to understand his position to increase his understanding with the other players for the important games. If they aren’t playing and don’t have a great relationship with the coach, they may be thinking it will be better if there is a change. I promise you that, because you become friends, you celebrate the trophy, unify and start having positive feelings for your team-mates and that brings an extra dimension to the team. I’m not talking just about for Antonio – it is important for the players, the recruitment and the overall wellbeing of the club. During the games he doesn’t influence the play, he doesn’t seem to be thinking about how to win the game. "I'm trying to think why it is still in doubt. "There has to be a deadline this month on his future, in March – with Antonio and the club, one way or another. With the fans unimpressed by many of the performances this season with boos at half-time, full-time and after one late substitution during Wednesday night's European exit to AC Milan, is it unclear whether the supporters' mood could also swing things.