antonio conte happy
What did you make of the performance of your players?
For sure a good performance and from the start until the end, the approach to manage the game was very positive. You know very well when there are these type of games, these must-win games it’s never easy because today we had only one result, to get three points, to win, only because it was a derby, a north London derby and we knew very well the importance for the fans. Because in the first leg we lost 3-1, especially because to win this game would give us the possibility to stay in this race, the possibility to take a place in the Champions League. I’m pleased for the commitment and the attitude of my players, for the way that they managed the pressure. At the same time I was very clear with them, it’s right to celebrate but if we don’t win on Sunday we risk that you won a derby. Now we are very close for a big achievement. We are one point less than Arsenal. There are two games to go. I think we have an important game against Burnley. We lost against Burnley and you know very well that after this game it made me very, very angry. I think it was a good step for me, for my players, for the club to understand what I wanted of my players and now to stay in this position I think at that time, none of us could think that two games to we would have the possibility to play for a place in the Champions League.
What did you make of the red card? Mikel Arteta won’t say anything about it but he seems very upset about it?
I think that Mikel Arteta is a really good coach. He’s being a really good coach. He’s just started to do this job and I think that I hear him complain a lot. I think that he needs to be focused more on his team and not to complain. Because he has just started his work and I think he has to be calm and to try to continue to work. Because he’s very good but to listen to a coach complain a lot of time is not good. But it’s ok, the red card for me it was clear. Don’t forget against Liverpool I said nothing what happened with Fabinho, a lot of time, because if we want to complain we have the possibility every game to speak about the referee, about the decision, about the postponed game, I think that this is the advice if you want to accept the advice. If you don’t I don’t care.
Was he complaining during the game or post-match?
You said to me about the post-match comments.
What about during the game, he seemed to be complaining?
During the game I’m focused on the game, on my team, on my players. I don’t see what happened on the opposite side, but I repeat he’s a really good coach and I think he can become an important coach in the future. But in six months I have listened to him complain a lot, and I think that I repeat it’s only advice, nothing else – because he’s very good and it’s not good to complain a lot. Also because he has just started to do this job.
Were you impressed with how your team coped with the occasion?
I’m delighted with the way we managed the pressure. I speak about this, the pressure was only on our shoulders tonight. Arsenal could draw or win, they had two good results to keep us far from a place in the Champions League. To see my players manage this, what happens when there is a red card on the other side you have to pay more attention especially when they have one yellow card. We spoke with Ben after the first half to pay attention. I am delighted with the way they managed and the attitude they showed.
Can you tell us any other instances when he’s complained and you’ve noticed?
If you remember he complained about the fixture. It is not good to complain. Arsenal were good to postpone a game in an incredible way with Covid and they only had one player with Covid. I didn’t forget this. If he wants to complain, we have a lot of possibilities to complain. Now, today I can complain about why I have to play on Sunday at 12pm and Arsenal has to play on Monday night. And they have one day more rest. We played against Leicester, Liverpool, Arsenal and now after only two days we have to play and we have to play the first game at 12pm.
Did you use the Covid postponement as a motivating factor?
For sure, it wasn’t a good situation because we were ready to play at that time and to see the game postponed in a strange way made us angry. But this is the past, the present is different. I said in the press conference I prefer to play against Arsenal with all their players available because if I have to beat Arsenal, they have to play with all their players. I think maybe my players were a bit angry also for the first leg, because we lost 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium. And then I repeat: an important target tonight. Only winning the game would continue the possibility to keep hope of finishing in the Champions League places.
Was there a balance between anger and the right attitude?
It’s not easy because you have to pay great attention to find a good balance. If you push too much your players, you risk an opposite answer. Also in this aspect, in six months and a half we worked step by step. Also for me it was important to know my players much better and them to know me much better, and understand sometimes when I’m angry, why I’m angry. Don’t forget the defeat against Burnley made me very angry, if you remember. But now, they’re improving in many aspects. Not only on the pitch but mentally they are becoming strong. But now we’re talking to tell a lot of positive things but on Sunday we have to win. So I ask to our fans to recreate this atmosphere because tonight it was amazing. The fans scored one goal. We scored two and one for our fans. It’ll be important on Sunday to stay together and create again this atmosphere. We need to play this game all together because it won’t be easy. It’ll be a sporting war, clearly.
