LONDON:
Uncertainty over Antonio Conte’s future threatens to ruin Tottenham’s season as the Italian returns to the bench for Wednesday’s Champions League final. AC Milan.
Conte is set to return to manage Tottenham after missing the last four games while recovering from gallbladder surgery.
Watching on television at home in Italy while staying in touch with his assistant Cristian Stellini, Conte saw Tottenham going through a difficult season that compounded the club’s inconsistency during his tenure. .
A pair of 2-0 wins against West Ham and Chelsea It suggested that Tottenham is on the way to get a fourth place in the Premier League with success.
But that optimism was marred by a 1-0 defeat at second-placed Sheffield United in the fifth round of the FA Cup and another league win with a goalless draw at Wolves on Saturday.
Conte is back in Tottenham’s training camp this week to find a club that is not in trouble – sitting fourth in the Premier League for now – but drifting again it seems without an order at the end of the season.
The north London side have not won a major trophy since 2008 and even a manager of Conte’s pedigree has failed to break the drought.
While Jurgen Klopp still remembers his Liverpool players as “real minds” during the height of their success under the German, most of the time Tottenham’s response to pressure has been making them look more like “thinkers”.
Conte acknowledged Tottenham’s problems beyond his control, expressing displeasure with chairman Daniel Levy’s policy without fully condemning him in public.
But the 53-year-old is taking his share of the blame from Tottenham fans, who are fed up with his tactics and questionable changes.
Stellini’s run of three wins before the FA Cup loss has left some Tottenham fans wondering what the future holds without Conte.
The former winner of Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus has not signed an extension to a contract that expires at the end of this season and will certainly be wanted from the Serie A club if available.
Even if Tottenham finish in the top four to ensure a return to the Champions League, it would not be surprising if Conte and Levy decide that parting ways is the only option. selection in May.
Facing that crisis, Tottenham meet Milan in the last 16 second leg to try to eliminate the 1-0 deficit from the first meeting at San Siro.
Tottenham need Conte to lift their spirits ahead of a decisive night in their season.
Facing a Milan will naturally be another sign of Tottenham’s frustration, but the victory can be the source for a more impressive result.
Tottenham defender Ben Davies has highlighted the importance of Conte’s presence for the Milan clash.
“It’s been a while but we have a big game on Wednesday and it’s really important to have him with us,” he said.
Conte has cut a disappointing figure on the line this season, but Stellini reiterated Davies’ hope that Tottenham can be revived upon their manager’s return.
“Antonio will be a big boost for us until the end of the season,” said Stellini.
“It is very important that Antonio comes back, the team shows that Antonio is alive, they want to win, they want to control the game.”
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