“I think I’m enjoying every moment of my adventure at Tottenham,” Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte said ahead of Saturday’s game against AFC Bournemouth.
Adventure is the right word. The match against Bournemouth, which Spurs won 3-2 after recovering from two goals, can be seen as a microcosm of Conte’s time in charge.
Wednesday marks one year since the Italian coach joined the north London club. The victory over Bournemouth presented some of the positives and negatives that characterised Conte’s year. The Spurs played poorly in the first half and looked fragile and lacking in confidence. in the same way and lost 2-0.
Only then did the team start betting positively. He attacked relentlessly and, while Conte made a multitude of substitutions, added courage to win a Premier League match.
Despite the win, there are bigger questions for Conte and the Spurs this season. As he approaches his first anniversary in the hot chair, here are five things we know about his tenure.
Tottenham Hotspur is a team that traditionally plays hot and attacking football. They concentrate on keeping the ball and moving it fast. It is a philosophy rooted in the club’s identity, from its motto, audere-est-facere (Dare to do), to The famous commentary of the legendary captain Danny Blanchflower. “The game is about glory, it’s about doing things with pleasure and grace, going out and beating everyone, without waiting for them to die of boredom,” Blanchflower said.
Conte’s technique hasn’t been all that exciting. He prefers a more cautious style, relying on direct attack schemes through laterals and quick counterattacks. Maybe it’s because Conte doesn’t have all the players he thinks he needs, but his team has rarely been nice to watch this season.
Conte’s taste served him well. As a coach, he won 4 times the name of Serie A (three with Juventus, one with Inter Milan) and the Premier League with Chelsea. With Spurs, he secured a fourth-place finish last season and qualification for the Champions League, after joining the club when he was eighth.
This season, the effects have been greater than the performances. Spurs are third in the Premier League table after thirteen games and the most sensitive in their Champions League group. But, in recent weeks, the effects have begun to wane. Before the game against Bournemouth, Spurs combined for two of their worst performances of the season, wasting against Manchester United and Newcastle United. This was followed by a desperately mediocre first half in the Champions League 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon.
For now. Tottenham’s last trophy in 2008 and most fans would be willing to compromise on short-term taste for some other trophy. Conte also struck a deal with the fan base. His record is and enthusiasts see him as the guy with the will to take the Spurs to the next level.
Fans have been frustrated because, despite all the progress the club has made over the past decade, there has been no trophy to show. Conte makes it clear that he needs to compete for titles. So although his team was booed at half-time against Newcastle and Sporting, many enthusiasts will continue to chant Conte’s name.
While Conte knew what he was getting into when he accepted the job at Spurs, he did not hesitate to make thinly veiled demands of the Tottenham board. He has spoken, not for the first time, of “the importance of bringing in vital players” in January’s movement window. Conte would say that with a bigger first 11 and a deeper team, he can rotate his team more to face competitions and play more offensive football.
Spurs president Daniel Levy also knew what he was getting when he signed Conte. Levy has taken the Spurs off the court but, like the fans, he longs for a trophy to show progress. Levy and his board will have a defiant resolution to make in January: spend heavily on the players Conte is asking for or threaten to damage appointments on tactics that are difficult to fix.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Sporting CP’s Marcus Edwards scores his team’s first PurposeArray. Clive Rose/Getty Images)
The win at Bournemouth was a must-see preview of a potentially decisive week for Conte and Spurs. On Tuesday, Spurs will travel to Marseille for a Champions League match in which they want a draw to qualify. The 4 organizations can still be classified from the organization and Marseille. It is known as a hostile environment for visitors. To make matters worse, Conte will not be sidelined as he is serving a one-time suspension.
Then, on Sunday, Spurs host Liverpool in the Premier League. A win over the long-suffering Liverpool would hurt a direct rival for a place in the top four and provide a huge mental boost. After Liverpool, Spurs still have one game, at home against Leeds. Like the rest of his year at Tottenham, this week will be an adventure for Conte.