Napoli has appointed former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurmanager Antonio Conte as their new head coach, signing him on a three-year contract.
Conte, aged 54, has been out of management since departing from Tottenham by mutual agreement in March 2023, concluding a 16-month tenure.
Despite a less than stellar stint in north London, Conte boasts an illustrious coaching career. Notably, he secured the Premier League title in his debut season at Chelsea (2016-17) and clinched the FA Cup in his second season before his dismissal in 2018.
“Napoli is a place of global importance. I am happy and excited at the idea of ââsitting on the blue bench,” Conte said, who guided Inter Milan to their first Serie A title in 11 years back in 2021.
“I can certainly promise one thing, I will do my utmost for the growth of the team and the club. My commitment, together with that of my staff, will be total.”
Antonio Conte also led Juventus to an impressive three consecutive Serie A titles between 2011 and 2014.
Despite Napoli’s historic Serie A triumph last season, ending a 33-year drought, they have faced challenges in replicating that success, culminating in a disappointing tenth-place finish in the league.
Their struggles prompted the appointment of Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona on a temporary basis in February until the end of the season.
This move came after the dismissal of manager Walter Mazzarri, who held the position for just three months.
Antonio Conte has refrained from confirming reports suggesting he will take over as the coach of Napoli.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager is Napoli’s top choice if the club opts to replace Rudi Garcia.
Garcia is under pressure at Napoli, with the team in fifth place after eight league games, but when questioned about the link, Conte said: “For now, I’m enjoying my family.
“I made a clear choice when I left England. Then you know that many things can happen along the way. Napoli? We must always have great respect and education.”
Antonio Conte, aged 56, has been unemployed since his mutual departure from Tottenham in March, following a 16-month tenure. The Italian has previously secured league titles with his former clubs, which include Chelsea, Juventus, and Inter Milan.
Rudi Garcia assumed the position after Luciano Spalletti during the summer.
However, a 3-1 home defeat to Fiorentina last Sunday left Napoli trailing league leaders AC Milan by seven points, with just four wins from their initial eight league matches.
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has indicated that he won’t rush into a decision concerning Garcia’s role.
“I’m an entrepreneur,” De Laurentiis said. “I have a duty to take an interest in my business. I will make the most appropriate decisions when the time comes to make them. You must always take a reflective pause. Every hasty decision is wrong… Head down, pedal and work.”
In a hardly disguised jab at Tottenham, Antonio Conte stated that “some had decided to settle for less”, but he insisted that he hasn’t lost his “passion.”
After a 3-3 draw on March 18 against Southampton, the league’s worst team, Conte left Tottenham by mutual consent.
He gave a venomous post-game press conference after the tie, in which they lost a 3-1 lead, criticising club owner Daniel Levy, the players, and the club’s trophy collection.
However, he still seems to have much fury left in him as he took a veiled dig at the north-London club for not being ambitious enough.
âThe last experience, like all of them really, had some things that were positive and some less so,” he stated at an awards ceremony in Arezzo on Tuesday. “The experience was wonderful, we did the maximum possible and gave all that we had.
When I arrived, the team was in eighth or ninth place, yet we qualified for the Champions League.
Then this season, with the side in fourth position, I decided we should part ways with Tottenham. Some had decided to settle for less.”
However, Conte, who is set to turn 60 in July, also insisted that he still has the fire in his belly to manage a top side and remains open for opportunities in Italy and abroad.
“I still have the desire to coach, that passion never goes,” he added. “If it did, I would have to look inside myself and think that it was no longer right to continue doing this profession. Having said that, I am also not spasmodically searching for a new job.
If something important and serious came along, that gave me motivation, then I would give it consideration, in Italy or abroad.”
Nagelsmann has been heavily linked with the post since his shock departure from Bayern Munich at the end of March.
The 35-year-old was in the running for the Spurs job in 2021 before Bayern swooped in at the time to secure the services of one of the most highly sought-after young coaches in world football.
When Antonio Conte left Tottenham soon after Nagelsmannâs dramatic exit from the Bundesliga champions, it was anticipated the German coach would again be in the mix for the vacancy at the Premier League club.
Speculation has rumbled on since but while Tottenham have great respect for Nagelsmann, they will not be meeting or interviewing him for the role and he is not a contender, PA understands.
Ryan Mason remains the current man in post on an acting head coach basis and earlier on Friday he backed Harry Kaneâs recent rhetoric that Spurs have lost the values old boss Mauricio Pochettino had put in place.
Spurs travel to eighth-placed Aston Villa on Saturday knowing victory will virtually secure them a place in theEuropa Conference League next season with hopes of a top-four finish long gone.
It is a far cry from Tottenhamâs best years under Pochettino when they were regularly in the Champions League and one of the best clubs in the country.
Kane has taken part in various interviews during the past week where he has spoken about how he is determined to restore a strong culture and environment despite uncertainty over his future with only one year left on his contract.
âYep, absolutely I am fully with him on that 100 per cent,â Mason responded when quizzed on Kaneâs comments.
âWe can talk a lot about players but I think the environment, culture, itâs everyone, everything, the small details. We have to have many people driving that, not just one or two people. It has to be driven from within.
âI agree with him because I was part of probably the change in setting new standards and a new culture within this place.
âYou can spend years trying to build something but at the same time it doesnât take long to lose it.
âThankfully for us we still have many, many good people within these walls who know and feel what good looks like and probably more importantly want that as well. It is something we absolutely strive for.
âIt is important, itâs vital and itâs crucial that everyone who comes in here is pulling in the same direction and want the same things. I think that goes for every single football club as well.
âWe need that. Every club needs that, we need that. I agree with him.
âI am happy that he has said it because he is one of the people I want to drive it because he is important to us, in terms of his stature at this football but also his understanding that thereâs many people that can contribute as well.â
With speculation rife over Kaneâs future, fans have taken comfort in his recent comments seemingly suggesting he would be at Tottenham next season.
Last month, chairman Daniel Levy revealed his hope for Kane to have a statue outside the stadium one day, but Mason admitted it was premature for now.
âI think that is probably a question to answer when he is not playing here because then you can recognise and appreciate the work he has done,â Mason stated ahead of the fourth game of his interim spell.
âRight now it is probably a bit premature because the reality is, Harry is still a Tottenham player and we are still focused on him achieving more great things for this football club. Hopefully he can do that.â
Tottenham began life withoutAntonio Conte on Monday by drawing 1-1 away to struggling Everton. Cristian Stellini lamented Tottenham’s lack of control.
The 68th-minute penalty from Harry Kane appeared to be enough for Spurs to win their first game under Stellini.
At Goodison Park, however, Michael Keane’s outstanding late long-range goal gave the Toffees a crucial point, frustrating their opponents.
Stellini was especially irritated by the result, particularly given Spurs’ man advantage for most of the second half after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s red card.
“My feeling now is that we have lost two points,” he told Sky Sports. “We had an [extra] man against them, we needed to control the game.
“We tried to do [that] but not in the way I expect. With 11 players, we have to do much better. You control the game with the ball, not without.”
Spurs were also reduced to 10 men in the final stages when Lucas Moura was dismissed for a late lunge on Keane before his equaliser.
Stellini, who was stood near Doucoure when he pushed Kane in the face to earn his red, believed both calls were fair from referee David Coote.
“I think Harry conceded a lot of tackles today before the red card,” he said. “Lucas, his tackle was too dangerous. Both of the red cards are clear for me.”
Their rivals have two games in hand each, but Stellini believes Spurs can draw on their experience from last season’s battle for Champions League qualification.
“It will be a tough race,” he conceded. “But one year ago, we had 51 points. We were fifth, and today, we are fourth.
“We are in the same position [as] last season. We have to be ready to fight. Now we think about the next game.”
Luis Enrique, a former coach for Spain and Barcelona, wants to work in England but appears to have ruled out taking over forAntonio Conte at Tottenham.
After La Roja was eliminated by Morocco in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup, Enrique cut ties with Spain.
Luis de la Fuente, who was promoted from the Under-21s, took his place, leaving Enrique back on the market.
Since then, there have been numerous references to high-profile positions, but Spurs, who fired Conte on Sunday after a week of persistent rumours that his time with the team was up, are the team he seems to have been most associated with.
During his first significant interview of the year, Enrique was not specifically asked about the Spurs, but he did express a desire to work in the Premier League.
But the fact he does not expect to be working in England even as early as July suggests the Spurs job would be a non-starter.
“I would like to go to England to work,” he told Radio SER Gijon.
“But I don’t see myself in the Premier League in July because I would like to go to a team there that can do important things, and that is very difficult.
“I would not go to [just] any Premier League team.”
The 52-year-old has also been among the big names linked with the Brazil job, which Tite vacated following the Selecao’s unsuccessful Qatar 2022 campaign.
The coach confirmed he has received offers from national teams â Brazil not being one of them â but he seems less interested in returning to the international stage as things stand.
“I don’t see myself coaching Brazil,” he continued. “Another coach profile fits in there better than mine.
“They haven’t called me. I don’t know if my style fits the best with Brazil.
“I have had offers from national teams,but not from clubs. It would have to be a very important [national] team to take it, although it would be very difficult for me to face Spain. I don’t know if I would be ready.”
After Zlatan Ibrahimovic jumped to Antonio Conte’s defence, he received unexpected support. Conte is currently under fire, with his job at Tottenham possibly on the line after making explosive comments last weekend.
After Spurs blew a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 with Southampton, the Italian lashed out at the players and club CEO Daniel Levy.
Spurs are expected to crack the whip on the former Chelsea manager in the near future.
While many would agree that Conte’s comments were necessary, others would argue that publicly criticising his club was inappropriate.
Sports Brief has previously documented how Conte’s misery in North London might be his own doing.
Ibrahimovic backs Conte As the discussion rages on, Ibrahimovic has thrown his weight behind the 53-year-old.
The bullish Swedish striker maintained that people ought to speak their minds without caring about the possible repercussions.
“Every person works in his own way. I believe in being yourself, but sometimes you pay for it because it’s not what people want to hear,” as quoted by Sky Sports.
Nagelsmann to replace Conte?
Conte’s contract runs until the end of the season and it is now highly unlikely that he will renew. Sports Brief reported that Tottenham Hotspur just might have been offered a superb chance to land a top manager after Julian Nagelsmannâs departure from Bayern Munich.
Despite guiding Bayern to the Champions League quarter-finals, the Bavarians coach has put the team in unfamiliar territory in the league, as they find themselves in a three-way battle for the Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund and surprise packages, Union Berlin.
The youthful coach could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Spurs, as he has a reputation for bringing the very best out of fairly young players.
Notably, Nagelsmannâs RB Leipzig thrashed Tottenham 4-0 as theGerman became the youngest manager to win a Champions League knockout tie back in 2019.
Antonio Conte was admonished by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to “elaborate” on the extraordinary outburst that put him in danger of losing his job as Tottenham manager.
The fiery Italian boss said he saw “selfish players” who “do not want to play under pressure” after his side were pegged back in a 3-3 Premier League draw by Southampton on Saturday.
Conte also sounded like he was taking aim at the club’s leadership when he said: “20 years there is the owner and they never won something. Why?”
Spurs are now anticipated to make their move during the break in international play. Hojbjerg said he can understand Conte’s annoyance over Sheffield United and Milan’s disappointing exits from the FA Cup and Champions League, respectively, but believes there should be a clearer message to help the team get to where they want to be.
“We’ve all seen it,” Hojbjerg told reporters while on Denmark duty.
“[It was a] very honest and very open press conference he gave. It is because he is not satisfied. You don’t do that if you’ve reached the quarter-final of theChampions League and if you’re in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
“It comes from the fact that, unfortunately, we did not get the results we as a team and club wanted. We are still where we want and need to be in the Premier League. But yes, it’s hard, I should say.
“I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing.
“The coach has not been satisfied, and that is what I will take with me. You do what you can to please him. What I do know about myself is that I am an honest player. I am a player who always gives 100 per cent of myself for the team.”
âWe shouldn't be in that situation. It's completely our faultâ
When asked if hefelt Conte was right to take the course of action he did, Hojbjerg replied: “Fortunately, I am not the one to judge it.
“If that’s how he sees it, then you have to be a little more precise in order for you as a player to take it to heart.”
He did confirm, though, that Conte did not give his players prior warning of the tirade that was to come.
“He didn’t tell us what he wanted to say at the press conference,” he said.
“But it is clear that you work with each other every day, you want the best for each other and you want to be successful together. And sometimes the waves go high in football.”
Spurs are fourth in the table but each of Newcastle United, Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion own games in hand in a congested fight for Champions League football.
They return to action at home to Everton on April 3.
Despite rumours linking him toTottenham, Roberto De Zerbi is content at Brighton and Hove Albion and committed to helping the Seagulls break records this season.
Since taking over for Graham Potter in September, De Zerbi has made a significant impact at Brighton and helped the Seagulls contend for European qualification.
With three games remaining, Brighton is seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs in the Premier League standings. Their 43 goals this season are also a competition record.
With De Zerbi’s team performing well, he has been mentioned as a potential successor to Antonio Conte, who is expected to leave Spurs by the end of the current season, along with people like Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Frank, and Steve Cooper.
Asked about those links at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds United, De Zerbi said: “I have a long contract with Brighton and I’m happy to work here.
“I’m enjoying working with these players, I’m delighted with my players for their performance and I can’t ask for more, it’s a good moment in my life.”
đ§ľ- Welcome to @OptaJoe's Thursday Thread, where we'll look at the impact of Roberto De Zerbi since joining Brighton. Across Europe's top five leagues, only Barcelona (64%) & Bayern Munich (63%) have averaged more possession than the Seagulls (62%) since last October. Control. pic.twitter.com/tsii80Y1GT
head of the trip to Elland Road, Brighton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games (W3 D2), the joint-longest current run in the competition, alongside Brentford.
We need to take our chances – Howe disappointed at another Newcastle blank
Brighton have also failed to score just once in 11 away league games this term (0-2 at Brentford in October) â no Premier League side have drawn a blank on fewer road trips (Arsenal also one).
With Brighton earning plaudits for their enterprising style and with the race for European qualification wide open, De Zerbi is aware of the potential their campaign holds.
“People are speaking about our quality of play, and for that I am proud. But we have to be focused only on the next games. We have a clear target,” he said.
“We have a dream. We know we can write a new history for the club. This is a nice challenge.Â
“It will be difficult. We know what we can expect, but now we are able to win. I think now we have a complete squad with many young players, we are stronger.
“We want to arrive in Europe but we have to push and take it game by game. Tomorrow starts a difficult period with three games in a week, but we are ready to fight for our targets.”
Everything begins at the back for Brighton.
Since the start of October, Lewis Dunk has averaged more passes per 90 than any other player in the Premier League (92.8). He also leads all defenders for involvement in build-up sequences that end with a shot (52). Initiator. pic.twitter.com/hetl5rHqa4
Jamie Carragher thinks Mauricio Pochettino would be wrong to return to Tottenham because doing so would be like Kevin Keegan going back to Newcastle United.
Tottenham’s coach Antonio Conte is under increasing pressure following a desperate run that dashed their chances of taking home a trophy this year.
Spurs entered the top four in the Premier League after back-to-back wins, but after losing at Wolves in the league, the FA Cup at Sheffield United, and a miserable goalless draw at Milan, they were eliminated from the Champions League.
Conte’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, so it seems likely that the former manager of Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter will soon leave Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Pochettino, who spent five years at the club, would be a popular appointment for many fans, and he remains out of work after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
But Liverpool legend Carragher sees concerning parallels with Keegan’s 2008 homecoming at Newcastle, where he soon left following a dispute with owner Mike Ashley.
“Never go back. That is what they say in football,” Carragher wrote in The Telegraph.
“Mauricio Pochettino would be wise to remember that if he is tempted to return to Tottenham Hotspur.
“Don’t do it, Poch. All parties need to move on. Comebacks are usually more romantic than logical.
4 – Tottenham Hotspur finished in the top four in four of their five previous completed seasons under Mauricio Pochettino, this after having finished in the top four in just two of their 22 Premier League campaigns before his arrival. Improved. pic.twitter.com/Ie8mo6MhNO
“Pochettino may see Spurs as the best chance to return to the Premier League. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy could curry favour with the supporters by re-appointing a popular ex-manager.
“They must know how rarely old magic is recreated in football.”
While noting Carlo Ancelotti has enjoyed a successful second spell at Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho won the title after rejoining Chelsea, Carragher added: “Pochettino returning to Spurs would be like Kevin Keegan going back to Newcastle United.
“Like Keegan’s Newcastle in the mid-90s, Pochettino’s Tottenham charmed neutrals without winning trophies.
“Keegan’s re-appointment in 2008 was greeted like the second coming, but he walked into different conditions and was gone eight months later.”
Tottenham finished second under Pochettino in 2016-17, their best performance since the 1960s, and also came third twice.
He was unable to end their wait for silverware, however, losing in the Champions League final in 2019 and EFL Cup final in 2015.
After watching his team lose to AC Milan in the Champions League semifinals, Antonio Conte says he is glad to continue leading Tottenham.
After a scoreless second leg in North London, Spurs lost 1-0 overall, and the Italian coach was booed by the home crowd as soon as the game ended.
In addition to losing to Championship team Sheffield United in the FA Cup last week, Spurs will have another trophyless season in 2022â23, and their topâfour position is also quite vulnerable.
Although there has been growing talk about the 53-year-future, old’s there was no indication of an impending departure in his post-game press conference.
Conte said: “This is not the right day to talk about my future, but I have a contract with Tottenham.
“Tottenham know very well my thoughts. At the end of the season, we will meet and then we will make a decision.
“I think the situation is really clear. One year and three months since I started to be the coach of Tottenham and I always say the same thing â we need to have time and patience.
“At this time, we donât have a solid foundation to be competitive and to win, in my opinion. W
“We try to work and understand who are the right players to create that foundation and improve the team. But at the moment, the club knows very well what are my thoughts.
“I have a great relationship with my chairman and Fabio Paratici. But it doesnât mean I donât tell them what is my vision.”
Incomparable exits
Antonio Conte believes Tottenham’s FA Cup and Champions League exits should not be compared
Though the former Chelsea boss confessed he was disappointed to exit Europe’s premier competition, he reaffirmed his belief that Spurs were heading in the right direction.
Conte also urged the club’s supporters to not compare the Milan loss with their embarrassing cup defeat to the Blades, which he said was considerably more frustrating.
He explained: “I think weâve made a step forward from last season. Last season we ended up in the Conference League and lost games to teams like Vitesse and Pacos Ferreira.
“This year we made the Champions League knockouts and lost to a team who, we shouldnât forget this, won Serie A last season.
“The FA Cup game was really bĂĄd, really really bad. The players know very well that we missed a big chance to fight for a trophy then.
“Today, I think in this type of game, there is a big difference in the opponent.
“We are talking about a big team with big history. A great team. We cannot do comparisons about these two defeats.
“It is not easy but at the same time, we have to continue to work. Iâm really sorry to the fans but we cannot invent a win that in one day, a trophy goes into our training ground.
“We have to build. We have to have patience.
“I understand it for the fans, they donât have patience because for a long time Tottenham is not winning but what I can promise is that we will work really hard for this club.”
Conte and Spurs must now bounce back quickly from this damaging defeat, with Nottingham Forest visiting North London in the Premier League this Saturday.
In the event that Antonio Conte’s team is eliminated from the Champions League, Manchester United reportedly believes they can lure Harry Kane away from Tottenham.
The prolific England captain, 30, is highly desired by the Red Devils, who are in the market for a star No9.
While United reportedly expects Spurs to lower their ÂŁ100 million asking price if they do not place in the top four, The Sun reports that the North Londoners are frantically trying not to sell.
Tottenham would run the risk of losing their talisman for nothing if they allowed Kane to complete the remaining 12 months of his contract because his contract expires at the end of the upcoming season.
Conte’s side currently sit in the final Champions League spot but are coming under pressure from Liverpool, who hammered United 7-0 to continue their recent revival on Sunday.
That Anfield humiliation has highlighted the need for improvement at Old Trafford and spending is expected â especially if the Glazer family decide to sell the club.
Saliba has answered all Arsenal’s doubts – Arteta
Kane has 18 league goals this season â the ninth campaign in a row he has hit double figures in the top flight â and would offer a superstar option alongside Marcus Rashford, who is in the form of his life.
He was strongly tipped to move to Manchester City last summer and may see this as his final chance to make a career-defining move as he looks to break his trophy duck.
Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen is another United target but there will be aqueue of clubs fighting for the 24-year-old’s signature.
The 35-year-old, who retired from professional football last year, talked about his interactions with some of the coaches and teammates he played with during his 11-year stint at Stamford Bridge in an interview with Dubai Eye 103.8.
The winner of the 2013 Nations Cup also revealed some fascinating information about the warning signs that the club’s manager would be fired at a time when the team wasn’t doing well.
“We always had a meeting with Roman (Abramovich) once the team was not doing well. He comes in and has a chat with us (team), he sits down, and everybody sits.
“He had this guy who was his friend and interpreter, so he starts shouting and screaming in Russian and then goes off and says you guys go back now and play football and start winning.
“If we don’t do that, the next time he comes in, he flies in with his helicopter to the training ground and that is it, we know that the manager is gone.”
The ex-Super Eagles captain worked under eleven managers at Chelsea, including top football managers like Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and Antonio Conte.
He made 249 appearances for the Blues, winning the EPL, UCL, Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup.
Antonio Conte, the head coach of Tottenham, will take a short break from the team to have gallbladder surgery.
Following complaints of “serious abdominal pain,” Spurs revealed on Wednesday that the Italian coach had recently been diagnosed with cholecystitis.
On the same day, he will undergo surgery to have his gallbladder removed, which will be followed by a “period of recovery.”
Spurs did not specify how long they anticipate Conte to be out of first-team duties, but he won’t be in charge of the team when Manchester City visits on Sunday.
The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom estimates that after such a treatment, it may take up to five days in the hospital and about a month to “return to your normal activities.”
This time frame “may be doubled if you have a more manual job”.
Six days after the City match, Tottenham plays at Leicester City before playing Milan on February 14 at the San Siro in the opening leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchup.
Prior to the weekend, Tottenham is in fifth place in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United despite having played one fewer game.
Antonio Conte recently became unwell with severe abdominal pain.
Following a diagnosis of cholecystitis, he will be undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder today and will return following a period of recuperation.
Gianluca Vialli has received tributes from many, including Antonio Conte, who called his former Juventus teammate a “lion” and “an inspiration” in an emotional social media post.
The former striker was re-diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021 after being given the all-clear the year before, and his death at age 58 was announced on Friday.
During Vialli’s four-year stay at Juventus between 1992 and 1996, Conte was a teammate and helped the Bianconeri win the Champions League in Vialli’s final season as club captain.
Conte took to Instagram on Friday to share a recent image of the pair dining together, alongside the caption: “Having dinner together in London a few months ago as we had fun remembering all our adventures and battles on the field.
“Unfortunately, in these last few years, you had to fight a great and terrible battle in life.
“I told you and wrote that you have always been an inspiration to me as my captain and for how you were proving to be strong, proud and brave, fighting like a lion against this disease.
“Always in my heart my friend. Goodbye Gianluca.”
Before joining Juventus in 1992, Vialli played for Sampdoria for the majority of his playing career. While there, he won one Scudetto, one Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Cup in addition to the Bianconeri’s 1996 European championship.
Following his departure from Juventus, Conte took over as the team’s captain. He later left for Chelsea, where he finally assumed managerial duties.
Tottenham expressed interest in signing Alessandro Bastoni during the previous transfer window, but the defender is happy with his decision to stay at Inter.
As Simone Inzaghi’s team narrowly missed defending the Scudetto previous season, Bastoni made 31 Serie A appearances and helped the team record eight shutouts.
Numerous teams have praised the 23-year-play old’s and ability to carry the ball out of defense, including Tottenham, who are supposedly coached by Bastoni’s former Nerazzurri manager Antonio Conte.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Bastoni revealed Spurs made concrete attempts to lure him to the Premier League, saying: “There was some contact, but I’m happy I stayed at Inter.”
Inter have disappointed so far this season and entered the World Cup break sitting fifth in Serie A, 11 points behind runaway leaders Napoli after 15 games.
However, Bastoni believes Inzaghi’s men must aim high when club football resumes in the coming weeks, adding: “We are aware of the strength and values of this team.
“Our goal is to always go all the way in all the competitions in which we participate. That’s why the disappointment would be great if we were to win nothing.”
While Paris Saint-Germain is still mentioned as a potential destination for Milan Skriniar, Bastoni is not the first Inter center-back to be linked with a transfer abroad.
At the conclusion of the current campaign, Skriniar’s Inter contract is set to expire, therefore Bastoni is hopeful that his defensive partner will sign a new one.
“I can only advise him to do what he thinks is right. We are all great and everyone has to make their own assessments, together with their family,” Bastoni said.
“The important thing is that he is convinced of the final choice. I can’t judge, I only hope he stays here.”
Antonio Conte wants to earn the right to sign a new contract with Tottenham, but has hinted the club must match his ambitions to keep him for the long term.
Conte’s current deal with Spurs expires at the end of the season, and although the club have an option for a one-year extension, the Italian has been linked with an exit on several occasions.
A return to Juventus has been touted as a possibility for Conte at various stages this campaign, but the Tottenham boss wants to show he deserves an extended stay in north London â so long as Spurs can help him achieve his own aims.
“My contract expires on June 30. Until that moment, the club has to make the best evaluation,” Conte said at a pre-match news conference ahead of Tottenham’s meeting with Leeds United on Saturday.
“I think that everything needs to be deserved. For this reason, it’s important to see the rest of the season, what happens, if we are happy with the improvement we are doing.
“On my side, professionally, I have to feel that I deserve to sign a new contract with this club. I have to feel this, but for sure I will talk with the club and we will find the best solution.
“When you start a path with a club, your dream is to stay here many years, to try to build something important.
“I think it’s very important, the relationship that you create with your players, the relationship you create with the club, the environment around you, and also don’t forget the ambition.
“If you’re used to fighting to win, it is also very important to match this situation and then, if you are lucky and find all of these situations, it’s simpler to stay for a long-term project.
“When this happens, you are a lucky person, a lucky man. Every manager dreams of this situation. Then the reality, unfortunately, is not always this.”
Tottenham have lost three of their past four Premier League games, which is as many as they had lost in their previous 24 (W17 D4), with Conte’s side appearing stretched amid an injury crisis.
Attacking stars Son Heung-min, Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski have all been absent in recent weeks, and Conte believes Tottenham may need to add numbers when the January transfer window opens.
“For sure, after the first part of the season it will be right to have a meeting with the club, to discuss the positive and negative things, where we can improve,” Conte said.
“Then we will see what we can do. It always depends on the possibilities, and the ambition from the club.
“But for sure, we’ll speak, also to have a good evaluation of this part of the season. I have seen a lot of positive things, but with injuries and having to play every three days, I think we struggled a lot.
“In the future, we have to try to improve, to be better to face this type of situation.”
Tottenham have won seven of their past nine Premier League games against Leeds (D1 L1), having lost eight of their previous nine against them in the top flight (D1).
Antonio Contesays he is “enjoying every single moment” at Tottenham as he nears a year in charge of the Premier League club.
Conte, appointed in November 2021, has not always portrayed his time in London in quite such a positive light, outlining the need for improvement and investment in order to seriously challenge.
Meanwhile, his Spurs contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
But ahead of Saturday’s match with Bournemouth â Tottenham’s final league game before November 2, the date on which Conte was appointed last year â the Italian spoke in glowing terms of his “adventure”.
“I always say that I am enjoying my time in Tottenham,” he said. “In one year, we had a great path together, with the club, the players, the fans and you [media].
“I think I am enjoying every single moment in my adventure in Tottenham. For sure, I discover a modern club, a club with a fantastic training ground and an amazing stadium.
“[I discovered] the passion of the fans, at the same time the demands of our fans â the demand is very high. I continue to enjoy every day.”
Conte has guided Tottenham to third, although he and the club approach his anniversary on a tough run.
Spurs lost consecutive Premier League matches to top-six rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United, before they were held by Sporting CP in the Champions League as a late Harry Kane winner was struck off.
Conte fumed after that decision, which followed a lengthy VAR delay deep into stoppage time, and he had no interest in reframing his thoughts on Friday.
“I said what I said,” he told reporters, adding: “I didn’t change my mind.”
Tottenham had already been frustrated by the officiating in the Newcastle defeat, as Hugo Lloris complained he was fouled in an incident involving Callum Wilson that led to the opening goal.
Spurs appealed at length to the referee, only for the goal to be awarded regardless, and the Football Association confirmed on Friday the club had accepted a ÂŁ20,000 fine for “failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion”.
Antonio Conte claimed he has never been worried about the form of strike duo Son Heung-min and Harry Kane as Tottenham prepare to host Everton on Saturday.
Son endured an underwhelming start to the 2022-23 campaign, failing to score in Spurs’ first six Premier League games before hitting a hat-trick in a 6-2 thrashing of Leicester City last month.
While those goals remain Son’s only domestic strikes of the season, he scored a brace â including a crashing left-footed volley â as Tottenham earned a 3-2 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s meeting with the Toffees, Conte said Son’s quality prevents him from fretting about any lack of goals, adding he would feel the same if Kane endured a drought.
“I wasn’t really worried about Sonny, or maybe last season, if Harry didn’t score goals,” Conte said on Friday. “We are talking about two important players for us, they work very well.
“It can happen during the season that you have a period where you can’t score or are a bit unlucky, but I repeat, we are talking about two important strikers.
“For sure, by the end of the season, I know that they are going to score more goals to help us do our best.”
Kane’s tally of eight Premier League goals this season is only bettered by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (15), and the England captain has scored 13 goals in 14Â league appearances against Everton.
That return includes six doubles â only Alan Shearer has scored multiple goals against a specific opponent more often in the competition (seven times v Leeds United; six braces, one hat-trick).
Kane’s form has helped Tottenham cope with the absence of fellow attacker Dejan Kulusevski, who has been ruled out since last month after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Conte pledged not to take any “stupid” risks with Kulusevski’s fitness as he ruled the Sweden international out of Saturday’s match, adding: “We have the same players from the last game.
“Deki is still not available for the Everton game. The rest of the players are okay.
“We need to have a bit of patience with him, and to not take any stupid risks because we play a lot of games between now and November.
“It’s important he recovers very well, and in this moment he is not 100 per cent in perfect physical condition. For this reason, it’s good to respect the opinions of the doctors.”
Conte has seen his sides keep clean sheets in all six of his Premier League meetings with Everton. Should Tottenham shut Frank Lampard’s men out this week, the Spurs boss will match Roberto Mancini (seven v Wigan Athletic) for the most games against a single side without conceding in the competition as coach.
Antonio Contehas urged Tottenham to be “more clinical” after they were held to a goalless draw by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
Despite registering 11 shots on goal, Spurs failed to score in successive group games in the competition for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
“We played a match with great intensity;Â we didn’t allow them to play their football or press a lot in every area of the pitch,” he told BT Sport.
“At the same time, we have to be more clinical. We created many chances to score. At the end, we are talking about a draw. It is a good draw because it is not easy to play away with the atmosphere. We played a good game but if you don’t score, you don’t win.
“There are moments you are more clinical, there are moments like in the game against Arsenal and today;Â you create chances, but make a mistake with the last pass.
“It is important to create chances;Â the game was good for us and we played with a great personality.”
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was left disappointed by his team-mates’ failure to turn positive build-up play into a breakthrough, but the midfielder highlighted the maturity on display as they ended a run of three successive away defeats in the Champions League.
“We are not 100 per cent happy, I thought we prepared until the penalty area well,” Hojbjerg said. “We tried to get in behind them, but the opportunities we had, we didn’t use them. It’s disappointing. The last bite needed a bit.
“I thought we took the game well, we tried to be dominant. We tried to find the spaces and tried to overcome the first pressure.
“If you cannot win, you don’t lose the game. The team presented themselves as very mature. We are here, we are competing and every game, we want to win.”
Spurs are second in Group D, two points behind Sporting CP and level on points with Eintracht.
Antonio Conte wants a lifelong ban from football to be imposed on the supporter who threw a banana at Richarlison while the Tottenham striker was on Brazil duty.
The apparent act of racist abuse came as Richarlison celebrated scoring in a 5-1 win over Tunisia at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Tuesday.
Richarlison expressed outrage after the game and called for stiff punishments to be imposed, while appearing to doubt such strong action would be taken.
The likes of his Spurs team-mate Harry Kane and former England captain Rio Ferdinand have offered their support, demanding action is taken, and now Tottenham boss Conte says there must be heavy sanctions.
“I think we have to take the good part of the situation. Richy played with the national team, scored goals,” Conte said.
“Then what happened is incredible because in 2022 to witness this type of situation is embarrassing for everybody.
“For sure I hope these people are banned from football for the rest of their lives.
“It’s a very disappointing situation to have to make a comment on this. I want to take the best part of the game from Richy. He scored goals and he enjoyed playing with Brazil.”
Tottenham said in a statement on Wednesday the club were “disgusted” by the abuse, adding: “This has no place in football, or anywhere. We stand with you, Richy.”
People going into stadiums & think itâs acceptable to throw a bananaâŚ
Authorities donât care!
Iâve got my own kids waking up saying, âu seen that banana thrown at Richarlison!â đ¤Ź
Antonio Conte described reports linking him with a return to Juventus as “disrespectful” ahead of Tottenham’s North London Derby clash with Arsenal.
Spurs are unbeaten in their seven Premier League games this season and trail the Gunners by just one point ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Should Tottenham avoid defeat at the home of their local rivals, it will be just the second time they have gone unbeaten through their first eight games of a Premier League season, having previously done so in 2016-17.
Conte’s work with Tottenham has seen him linked with a return to Juventus, who he led to three consecutive Serie A titles between 2011-12 and 2013-14.
Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri is under pressure after they recorded just two wins in their opening seven Serie A matches this season, but Conte has rubbished speculation he would be tempted by a return to Turin.
“This is incredible. In this period I think this is disrespectful for the coach that works in Juventus and for me working in Tottenham,” Conte said on Thursday.
“We have just started the season. Many times I have spoken about this topic and I’ve always said I’m happy and enjoying my time with Tottenham.
“We have the whole season to find the best solution for the club and for me, and for sure I’m enjoying my time at Tottenham. I have a great relationship with the owner [Daniel Levy] and [sporting director Fabio] Paratici.
“I don’t see any problems at the moment in the future. We both signed the contract. I don’t want to listen to someone speaking about this.”
Tottenham overcame Arsenal in a tense battle for Champions League qualification last season, going on to claim fourth place after beating the Gunners 3-0 in May.
Conte, however, believes Mikel Arteta’s side have improved since then, adding: “For sure Arsenal had a fantastic start, they lost only one game against [Manchester] United. They are showing to be a really good team.
“In the summer they made good signings and improved the team that, don’t forget, before the last three games of last season, were four points up on us.
“We are talking about a really good team that, last season, we did a really good job to overcome in the last three games.
“At the same time, I know the quality of this team, that they are working with Arteta for many years. For me, he’s a really good coach. He can have in front of him a great career.”
Both Hugo Lloris and Dejan Kulusevski are reportedly doubtful for the trip to Arsenal with minor injuries, and Conte believes the punishing nature of the schedule between now and the World Cup will reveal which sides are genuine title contenders.
“I have seen that many clubs are having big problems with players that played these two games [in the international break], and for sure Tottenham is one of these clubs,” he added.
“You have to understand this was the last game [for the players] to show they deserve to play the World Cup, also for the coaches it was the last period to call the players.
England goal number 51 for Harry and 90 minutes for Eric đŚ
“For sure, to play so many games before the international break, and then again now to play 13 games in 43 days, it’s crazy, it’s crazy.
“For sure, we have to face it with injuries. In this period, you understand which are the really competitive squads.
“This is the moment in which you understand who are the title contenders and the teams that are competitive for Champions League.”
Saturday’s match will be the first North London Derby since December 2007 to begin with one of the sides sitting top of the Premier League.
Should Spurs win, it would be the first time in top-flight history that either of the teams has beaten the other to replace them at the top of the table.
Dejan Kulusevski believes Antonio Conte’s coaching style has been critical in his personal improvement at Tottenham after stagnating with Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus.
Kulusevski rose to prominence during the 2019-20 season when on loan at Parma from Atalanta, with his form in the first half of that campaign persuading Juve to spend âŹ35million on him.
Although he played 55 Serie Agames for the Bianconeri after linking up with them ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, Kulusevski struggled to find the same prominence and consistency he enjoyed at Parma.
Spurs struck a deal in January to take the Sweden international on loan for 18 months, and the agreement will become permanent for ÂŁ29.2m (âŹ32.6m) if certain sporting criteria are met.
Kulusevski quickly made an impression â from the date of his signing until the end of the season, no player registered more assists than his eight in the Premier League, while Kevin De Bruyne (17), Son Heung-min (20) and Harry Kane (21) were the only three individuals to tally more goal involvements than the Swede’s 13 over the same period.
Similarly, his three assists this season is third to only De Bruyne (six) and Bukayo Saka (four) â he is finding his feet, and he does not think he could have found such comfort had he stayed at Juventus.
“In football sometimes things simply go wrong,” Kulusevski told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I have not changed anything about myself in recent months: mentally I went always to go on the pitch and gave my best.
“At Juve, however, it didn’t work beyond what I tried to do. I didn’t feel great for so many different reasons and when you realise that things are not right, then it’s difficult to reverse course by staying in the same environment.
“So, the choice to leave Italy was the best I could have made in that situation.
“In England I am great, everything is better than in Turin, both on and off the pitch. As I said, now I really always want to play football.”
Kulusevski has no doubt what the key difference is: Conte.
After Richarlison infuriated supporters on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte jumped to the striker’s defense.
For the third match in a row, Richarlison made his debut from the bench. Late in the game, the Brazilian gave Harry Kane an assist to put the game beyond Nottingham Forest’s control.
Spurs had to work hard for the victory because Forest predominated for extended stretches. Although they played well, the freshly promoted team was unable to penetrate Hugo Lloris’s net.
The game was full of highlights, with Conte forced to comment on Richarlison’s piece of showboating towards the tail-end of the game.
The former Everton man received the ball close to the touchline. He then proceeded to do some keepy-uppies before eventually releasing the ball. He ended up misplacing the pass and in his attempt to win it back, was fouled by Forest’s players.
Speaking after the game and as quoted by the Guardian, Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper was livid.
I wouldn’t want my players to do what Richarlison did. It wouldn’t be accepted here.
Conte, on his end, said,
I think he juggled with the ball. It is a game and you are under pressure. I repeat it is OK. I don’t think Richy wanted to show disrespect to Nottingham Forest as quoted by Football London.
Richarlison is not new to controversy. Apart from his impeccable football ability, he is known for winding up the opposition. He will be pushing to start more games after impressing off the bench in recent games.
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