#PLStories- Antonio Conte on Son hat-trick, changing Tottenham and not compromising #THFC
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That seemed like such an open game until Son’s quality shone through?
Yeah, in the first half, it was a really strange game because I think we started the game very well, we had possession we created difficult from the start, but maybe in our best moment, we conceded the penalty. The penalty was… we were really happy for the save for Hugo, then when the VAR decided to repeat the penalty, it was a bit disappointing. Then they score the goal. You know, in this type of situation, your confidence can go down and instead, we were really good to go 1-1, then go to score again with two set-pieces. After this, I think we can do much better because I don’t know why we lost a bit of confidence with the possession, we lost stupid balls, and Leicester took confidence. They scored 2-2, and after the first half, for sure I wasn’t happy because honestly I had seen not a lot of energy in my team and I was a bit worried, but in the second half, it was totally different because the energy was really high. We showed great confidence with the ball, we did really well. In between the halves, we worked to understand the way to attack them with the space they conceded us, especially in the flank with the wing-backs. Then I think we played a good second half. I am pleased. I am pleased for Sonny, for sure, because we can speak, we can try to give an explanation if a player doesn’t score especially when he is a striker, but at the end, the striker has to score because if the striker doesn’t score, the confidence goes down. For sure, in the last seven games, he had a lot of chances to score, but he was unlucky. For him to score three today in only 13 minutes, I think it was a record for me, the first time to score three as a substitute in this time. I am happy for him to change the game as a substitute in this way, but I am especially happy for the team because we needed this. We have three points, and we are 17 points after seven games. I think it was a really good start, and now there is the international break. Fingers crossed, I hope for no more injuries because, in October, we have 12 games in a row, difficult games because we are talking about Premier League, Champions League, Premier League, and Champions League. If I have to be disappointed, I am disappointed with the game we lost to Sporting Lisbon because we didn’t deserve to lose this game. For this reason, I was unhappy because I don’t think Sporting Lisbon didn’t show to be better than us.
It looks like a great decision now to give Son that rest, but how hard was it to make that decision?
Yeah, but honestly, you said it well, the people do not understand for the coach to manage this type of situation is not easy. It’s not easy because sometimes you prefer to play with 13 players, but in some moments I have to take important decisions. First of all, you have to try to be honest in the decision because if you are honest, you don’t lose the respect of your players. I think in my career, every decision that I am going to take is always for the best of the team. The players know very well that I want to win and every decision is for the best of the team, also for the best of the player, to protect the players, because if we have an injury, Harry Kane an injury, Sonny an injury, to only talk about Dejan or Richy is difficult. To have Lucas Moura out for one month, it is difficult to manage the situation. It’s normal, and I want to bring this team to think of a superior level, not to stay in the middle. Not to stay at Tottenham because there I play every game, every game, every game. If you think like this, you are probably not going to fight for something important in my opinion. We have just started this path with the club. To have Richarlison up front, with Harry, Sonny, Deki and also Lucas, then there is Gil, who is a good prospect and young, it means the situation gives me the possibility to have rotation. In the first four games, Richy was on the bench, and then in three games with Deki on the bench, today Sonny was on the bench. When we start to play after the international break, 12 games in a row, for sure, I will make rotation. The only thing I ask my players is to give me the possibility don’t drop the level when we make this rotation. We always want a strong team because we want to fight for every competition.
It’s normally seen as a problem with so many options, but is rotation just how big clubs need to operate?
Yeah, but honestly, In the past, I did the same in every situation I worked in: Chelsea, in Juventus, in Inter Milan and yeah, when you want to be competitive and fight for something important, and I repeat, we have just started our path because, in my opinion, our squad is not still ready to be strong, strong compared with City, Liverpool and Chelsea – then we fight also with Arsenal and United. We have just started, but if the players want to play for something important, to lift a trophy – they have to understand this. Otherwise, they continue to play every game, but they don’t go to win anything. This is clear. Clear. It happened in the past here, and I repeat, I want to try and change. I want to try and change to bring this team to another level. I will try to do my best. But I’m not worried about this. For sure, it’s not easy. It’s not simple. But I have to get the best decision in every moment. Also, today, Romero – Romero was on the bench. I played Sanchez. Emerson played every game until now, then I decided to make a rotation. Yeah, I repeat, if you want to stay in a team with ambition, you have to accept this type of situation. Otherwise, you have to go to a medium team, and then you are sure you will play every game. And then it will be very difficult to lift a trophy in this way.
In the past, was it too easy that some players would play every day?
Honestly, I don’t care what happened in the past. I have my management, I have my own idea, and my story speaks very clear. In every situation I work in, I lift a trophy at the end. It means maybe my vision, my work, and my idea of football have to give credit. Otherwise… I go with my idea, I go with my thoughts, my way to build something important. I think the club is really happy for what we are doing with the players, with the staff and for sure I don’t want to compromise. I don’t accept compromise of anybody. This has to be very clear. I go for my way, I go for my street, and this has to be very important because I know I am going to try to build something important for the future, for the club that decided to work with me.
Was that a weight lifted from Son’s shoulders?
I always say to you, especially since I remember many press conferences this season before many games, you ask me why you don’t drop Sonny for not scoring. I remember this. For me, Sonny will never be a problem, never, never, never. Because we are talking about a really good guy, an amazing, outstanding player, one of the two best players in my team with Harry, but at the same time, I repeat, I try to follow a road to try to protect the players, to protect also for the future. If it happens that Sonny goes to be injured, or Harry Kane goes to be injured, Richarlison or Deki, then we are in trouble, we are in big trouble. You have seen to have Lucas Moura out for one month was really difficult for me to manage the situation. For this reason, I try to protect my work, to protect the club and to protect the welfare of the players. For sure, in the next 12 games, we make rotation, and we make rotation in the way that I think that moment is right. Then if I make a mistake, I don’t know, but every decision I am going to take is always an honest decision because I want to win, I want to try to put my players in the best physical condition to put the best performance for the team.
What did you or the players say to Sonny afterwards?
For sure, to see Sonny with the ball after the hat-trick, then also the trophy for the best player of the game was great. It was amazing for me, for the team-mates because we needed this. We, not only Sonny, we needed this. I am happy, but I repeat, this is not a problem. If we solve the problem in this way, we have to repeat the situation in the next game with all the players. In the future, all the players ask me ‘please, please, please put me on the bench’ and then they come in and score three goals, but I am joking, of course.
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