#PLStories- Antonio Conte on his Tottenham future, speaking to Daniel Levy and Milan defeat #THFC
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What did you make of the performance?
Well, I think that both of the games were pretty even. First leg and second leg, just look at the data that suggests it was quite even. Perhaps in the San Siro, where we both had top players missing, and since Milan had more players missing perhaps we should have made most of that opportunity. Over the last few weeks lots of important players returned for Milan, including the goalkeeper, and that’s important to have the best players back. Particularly when you press and have an opposition who are able to get out of the press well. Giroud defends the ball, Leao attacks space and it gets you beyond the space. I think over the course of the two games we continue to have some major absences but the real difference was how dangerous we were in attack compared to them. They were more dangerous in attack, They have Thiago Hernandez, Giroud, Leao who create real issues for opposition. I think offensively as a team we didn’t create a great deal compared to what we should have created. We are obviously disappointed, you would expect us to be. We have made a step forward compared to last season. Last season we played in the Conference League, we didn’t get out of group, we lost away to Mura, Vitesse where as this year we won our group and have been knocked out by team who won Serie A last year. There is a huge difference compared to last year. We have been knocked out. By same token, winning a championship or any trophy is not something you do overnight You need to work hard, you ned to get our players to develop, you need to understand what players will develop and what players will not develop, It sounds simple. Milan won the Italian championship, we played well at end of last season, played well in last 10 games.
What are your plans for the rest of the season?
I think for sure the game in the FA Cup was really, really bad. It was really, really bad and the players know very well that we missed a big chance to continue to stay and fight for a trophy. Today I think in this type of game and there is a big difference with the opponent. Today you played against Milan who last season won the league in Italy. We are talking about a big team, with a big story, a great team. We cannot compare these two defeats. The reality is we are out from FA Cup and now Champions League. Yeah, what I can tell you is we are working. We are working to try to improve and to go step by step but if someone thinks that in one day, one year, you start to win? It is difficult. I know that to win you have to build, you need time and you have to go step by step and to accept this type of defeat. This defeat because I think Sheffield United was unacceptable, but today, for the opponent, for the trophy we play, I don’t like to lose but it can happen during a path to have this type of situation, especially I repeat because last season don’t forget we play Conference League and two years ago Europa League. Now we are playing again Champions League but to play Champions League you know you have to improve your level because the level is high. In Premier League it is really difficult because you can see in the table really strong teams who stay in difficult position but we have to know that it’s not easy. At same time the only way is to continue to work. I am really sorry for the fans, I am really sorry for the fans but we cannot invent the win. This is important to know this. We cannot invent the win or hope for a miracle one day that a trophy go into our training ground or pitch. We have to build and have patience. I understand for the fans, they don’t have patience because for a long time Tottenham is not winning but what I can promise is that we continue to work really hard for this club to try to improve and then we see what happen.
And what about your future?
This is not right day to speak about future but my future, I have a contract with Tottenham and then Tottenham know very well which is my thoughts and at the end of season we will meet and then we’ll make a decision.
Could you speak to Levy earlier?
No, but I think the situation is really clear. It’s one year and three months since I’ve been the coach of Tottenham. I always say the same things. We need time and patience because in this moment we don’t have a solid foundation to be competitive to fight to win in my opinion. We try to work, to understand which are the right players to continue to create a solid foundation and the transfer market to try to find the right solution to improve the team but at the moment the club knows very well which is my thoughts and I have a great relationship with my chairman, with Fabio Paratici but it doesn’t mean that I don’t tell them which is my vision you understand? Then we will see. Now we have to finish the season. I have a contract until June. I am happy to work in Tottenham but at the end will make a decision okay, but the club knows very well which is my vision, which are my thoughts about the situation.
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