antonio conte happy
What did you like most about that performance?
I’m so glad and so happy to have this possibility to train all the week, a special team, special players and great men so I have to say thanks to everyone but not only say thanks to the players but all the staff who work around the players because everyone push themselves in another level to try to cover the gap left by Antonio. We knew very well we had to so thanks to everyone.
Have you spoken to Antonio yet?
Yes we spoke with Antonio in the dressing room. Immediately when we arrived Antonio was on the phone and he say he was really happy. He gave compliments to everyone and especially to Harry for the record he achieved. It was amazing, he was really happy and he gave them the day off tomorrow. They enjoy a lot this moment.
What that Tottenham’s best performance of the season and could it be an inspiration for the second half of the season?
I think it is one of the best performances of the season. In a difficult game, in a difficult moment, I think players take responsibility in this type of situation and they play and they train very well. With this responsibility they do their best for 90 minutes. This is only difference we had today compared to the last match we played against Manchester City.
You described City as a big beast, how did you face a team like that?
I cannot speak like I am the opponent but we are a big beast as well with different skills. We knew this but we cannot explain it before the game but it’s not the right thing to do. But we know our skill and our capacity. We have to show this for 90 minutes plus extra-time and today we did well in the first and second half because the desire to win, desire and to not concede a goal was really amazing and all the players showed that.
How important was this in reminding the team that they can challenge for the top four?
Honestly, I feel I never lose this feeling. I feel every time the team is able to reach the target and to be a top four contender, every time I feel this. Also when we were not perfect, it is normal to not be perfect with the tough schedule, in a tough moment. In the past maybe we lost some important players for us and we have not many solutions. When you play every three days, you need all the players. Today also the players who came in did well. We hope players like Bissouma today, Sanchez today, Sessegnon today, next time can be another player and give the same performance and maybe better. We are happy because now we have many players to use in the next game we have because until 18th of March we have nine games.
Do you think Arsenal will be happy with you tonight?
I don’t know. I am not Arteta. I think so but we are happy. We think about our squad, we think about our result, we are happy to win this game and it is not so important.
Has Arteta sent you a text?
No, but I spoke to Antonio and that is the best thing for me.
How impressed were you with Emerson Royal today, he seemed to react with Pedro Porro there on the bench?
Yes Emerson was one of the most important. In the end of the game he had two or three situations and he showed his desire like all the team. It is important to have different players in the same position with different skills and you use the player when you need. Emerson showed today he is a good player. I think that in the Arsenal game in October, he didn’t deserve a red card and he lose his place in that moment. He lost his place in that moment, a not good red card, it was not a good decision, it create for Emerson a problem and he need time to find that place because for the first six games of the season he was this player.
Tell us about the Harry Kane you see behind the scenes?
Harry Kane is football. In his DNA, you can smell every time he can show the best football you can see. To compare one player like Harry Kane to the top in the history, you have to wait until the end of his career but we want to enjoy every day to see him like we do normally. Into the pitch, out of the pitch, during the training, when he speaks to the players, when he speaks to the managers, he shows football. You can understand this in every moment. He is amazing to enjoy and to work with a player like Harry.
