Tim Sherwood has praised Antonio Conte and labelled him as ‘top, top drawer’ after Tottenham Hotspur recorded a 2-1 win over Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.
The former midfielder added that it’s an ‘art in itself’ that Conte has made his ‘world-class players’ do the ‘dirty stuff’ in games, as he told MatchDay Extra on Premier League Productions (03/09/22 at 8:30 pm).
It was another nervy game for Spurs in north London where perhaps they weren’t at their clinical best against a newly-promoted side that have started the new season in superb fashion.
Despite that, Conte is watching his players grind out results, maintain their 100% start at home and continue to hold a healthy spot in the Premier League table.
It’s still very much early days, but Spurs are sitting third after six games, one point behind the current leaders Arsenal, who can move four clear if they beat Manchester United on Sunday.
Nonetheless, with Conte now in his first full season as the Lilywhites boss, Sherwood has spoken highly about how he is eeking out every bit of quality from his players.
“What they are is organised,” said Sherwood. “He has got it instilled into them. He’s a top, top-drawer manager. He makes world-class players run around and do the dirty stuff in the game, which is an art in itself.
“I think they are responding to him. They don’t have to play well Tottenham to win football matches. They are grinding it out. They had 23 shots at goal and ten on target, so they haven’t done bad.
“But they are at their best when they are counter-attacking.”
TOTTENHAM’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROAD STARTS
Ahead of a packed few weeks of football, including a return to the Champions League for Spurs, Conte is starting to rotate his squad.
It’s Marseille in the Champions League for Spurs and this is where this squad depth will be tested because it’s going to be top-level game after top-level game.
From having to maintain elite-level performances to grinding out results after a difficult midweek game and also having to deal with injuries.
If Spurs can show positive signs from these next few weeks, including remaining unbeaten, then it will set them up well to maintain a positive charge heading into winter break for the 2022 World Cup in November.
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