Speaking on the BBC Radio Five Live Football Daily Podcast, Don Hutchinson has been speaking about Tottenham Hotspur and Antonio Conte’s impact since joining the club.
Conte has certainly turned things around at Spurs. The team are now playing with so much more intensity. They’re running further, trying harder and that’s led to improved results.
A number of Spurs players have improved under Conte, but one man who has seemingly been transformed is Dele Alli.
Hutchinson says that Alli has completely bought into Conte’s philosophy, claiming that the Italian has the midfielder in the palm of his hand.
What’s been said about Alli and Conte?
Hutchinson gave his view on Conte’s impact at Spurs and Alli.
“When Nuno was in charge it was a bit like the supply teacher was in and the players were getting away with a few things and the discipline wasn’t there. Then they bring Antonio Conte in an it’s like the headteacher is in for the day. He’s got the players now, he’s got Dele Alli in the palm of his hand, Lucas Moura, Harry Kane, anyone you want, they’re looking at the gaffer and thinking ‘if we can’t do it under him, we have to start looking in the mirror’,” Hutchinson said.
Just what he needed
A manager like Conte is exactly what Dele Alli needed at this moment in time.
As much as we hate to say it, the midfielder’s career was in danger of going off the rails at one point. He’d become a fringe player under Jose Mourinho, while he also couldn’t re-establish himself in the side under Ryan Mason.
Conte has shown a bit of faith in Alli, and while he’s not fully paid it back yet, it seems as though he’s getting back onto the right track.
We’ve been here before with Alli, so we can’t get too carried away just yet, but there are certainly positive signs for the England international.
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