Les Ferdinand thinks the second Tottenham Hotspur win a trophy under Antonio Conte, if it happens, then the fans will demand that they play ‘attractive’ football and it could ’cause a problem’.
The former striker also added that Conte wants those in the Spurs boardroom to back him once again in the transfer market, or else he will head for the exit door.
On Sunday, it was an injury-hit side that suffered a deserved 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, with Cristian Romero, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Pierre-Emile Hojbjgerg out of action.
It meant that Conte had to dig deep into his squad, including playing a midfield three of Rodrigo Bentancur, Oliver Skipp and Yves Bissouma – it was Skipp’s first start of the season.
Added to that, someone like Lucas Moura, who has now become a bench player under the Italian, was also brought on to try and weave his magic, but to no avail.
All in all, it resulted in Conte hinting towards the squad needing more bulking in the transfer market and this is what Les Ferdinand had to say on the matter, as he told Sky Sports Football (23/10/22 at 7:05 pm).
“I understand where he is coming from,” said Ferdinand. “He’s had four of his mainstay players out of the team. Players that, if they were fit, would have played against Newcastle and would have made a difference, so I understand his frustration there.
“Then, like he said, if people aren’t listening to what he’s saying, in terms of the journey that they are on, it’s going to take time. They are building. They have started the season really well.
“Like we said, because the opposition across the road in north London is doing so well, then it highlights it when you don’t win a game here.
“I think he had done it all along and saying: ‘How much are you committed to this process? I am telling you where I think I can take you, but I need the players to take us there. We haven’t got enough of those players in the building, at the moment, so if you give me the players, then I will sign a new contract. Hopefully, Harry Kane is going to sign a new deal and let’s go on this journey. But if you are not, then it’s time for me to move on’.
“He won’t be able to do what he wants to do – the supporters have always wanted a style of play here. Mourinho was here and walked out winning nothing. There could be at a stage where Conte does win something, then after that, they will be saying ‘we want to see this attractive football we are used to seeing here at Spurs’ and that could cause a problem.”
BETTER THAN THE PERFORMANCES SUGGEST
Tottenham have some serious firepower at their disposal, and in recent times, some of those players have been forced to sit in the treatment room.
Either way, even when the likes of Richarlison and Co. have all been playing together, fans have questioned the style of play on show and how it’s seemingly boring to watch.
Well, the results have been far better than the performances suggest, and so far, that is all that should matter.
Spurs are sitting third in the Premier League table and they are top of their Champions League group, especially after having a little blip, so that’s pretty good going.
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