antonio conte happy
Best performance of the season?
For sure the performance, yeah I like the performance. Also against Southampton we had a good performance. If I have to find a situation that we need to improve, it is to be more clinical because when you create so many chances, you have to score but we scored two goals disallowed, then the crossbar. Yeah, I enjoyed a lot to see my players play the ball with quality and personality. Also to see the three strikers, Richy, Harry and Sonny, work very hard for the team with the ball and without the ball. They give us a lot of quality with the ball and a lot of danger for the opponent because they moved very well and yeah, I am really pleased for our performance today.
Sonny was very unlucky today with chances, were you more pleased today with the performance in general from him?
This is not only for Sonny (in the matches), but also the training sessions. We have Fraser (Forster) that sometimes he made a fantastic save to him in the training session and sometimes he is struggling to score but this is a period. I continue to tell you I am not worried because when I see this type of performance from my players, Sonny included, I am not worried. I know they are going to score many goals with these strikers.
What did you make of Richarlison’s performance?
For me he played in an amazing way, honestly, honestly. Richy with Lenglet today because don’t forget Lenglet, played very well. With personality, with quality, also found difficult passes between the lines. These two players, about the new players, these two players came into our idea of football quickly. Richy played really well and in this way I’m also more relaxed. Because when you play every three days sometimes you need to give a bit of rest. And today I decided to give a rest to Deki [Dejan Kulusevski]. You know that Deki is having fantastic performances for us. But you know very well that we start the Champions League in three days, and we have to prepare for an important game. You know what we did last season to get this achievement and this result, and for this reason we want to enjoy, we want to try and be protagonists in this competition.
Does the yellow card for Richarlison still stand despite the disallowed goal?
(Press officer: yes, the yellow stands)
You said it would be three transfer windows to catch City and Liverpool but there is still a reason for fans to be excited?
Important to have great enthusiasm and be excited for the team but at the same time I have to be realistic and don’t forget that last November the situation was really problematic because we lost 3-0 at home against United. Then the club decided to make a different decision. In only 10 months and if someone thinks we cancel everything and we are at the same level of the other top teams, I think this is not realistic. If I want to tell you a lie I can tell you a lie, but honestly, I want to tell you the truth. On the other hand, I am the first to push myself and push my players and tell them to play this season with ambition to be competitive but we finished last season with 20 points less than City and Liverpool, and there was a lot of trouble last season for the club. Now I think we are doing good things but it’s really soon to give an unrealistic judgement, in my opinion. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to be competitive with ambition to fight for something important. I have a bit of experience to tell you that we need time and patience and when there is the possibility in the transfer market, don’t make big mistakes because we don’t have the possibility to do mistakes.
You made five changes today and the level was still high, is that exactly what you want when you are going to make changes?
The real changes compared to last season were only two because Bentancur is a player who usually starts every game in starting XI. It was the same for Cuti Romero and Sessegnon. Sessegnon played the whole season in the starting XI. The real changes were two, Richy and Lenglet. I think they showed they are really good players who can improve us a lot to become stronger and to become also the squad more deep and give me the possibility to make rotation without a drop in quality. I think Lenglet showed to be a really good player with personality, with quality. When you sign a player from Barcelona for sure he arrives with a big background and for me it’s easier to explain the football to him. Richy is another player, strong player, you feel him when stay on pitch and feel his personality on the pitch.. He’s a warrior, a fighter and we need this type of player to improve this type of aspect.
Harry Kane previously scored high 20s/30 when Tottenham had their best results in the league, is he capable of scoring those kind of numbers after his start?
First of all, I’m really pleased for the way Harry is playing. Then you know very well, we needed his goal. But I’m pleased to see the way he is playing. He is a No.9 who is fantastic technically. He arrives sometimes with a strong pass. He cleaned the ball and he plays in a way you can only enjoy to see him play. I’m sure he wants to fight to be competitive in everything. And we want to give him a big praise. We’re talking about a player who works for the team with and without the ball. Honestly many times, many players with great talent didn’t like to work for the team without the ball. Only with the ball to enjoy being in possession Harry is a complete player and a world class striker.
Are you surprised how quickly Richarlison has understood the idea of the team as he just looks like he fits in the front three very well?
I’m using him in all the three positions in the front. A number 9 and number 10 on the right or the left. In the previous game he played in Son’s position and today he played in Deki’s position today. I’m not surprised but I enjoyed the fact he worked a lot to understand our ideas quickly. Now my expectations of other players, good players like Bissouma to come quickly into our idea of football. Because now we don’t have a lot of time, we play many games and I have to count on the players I have in my squad.
