Thierry Henry was in disbelief when Clint Dempsey suggested that Tottenham Hotspur are his ‘dark horses’ to win the 2023 Champions League.
The former USA international and Spurs midfielder added that Antonio Conte is a ‘winner’, as Henry then told him ‘I am out’ when he put forward his suggestion, as they told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (06/09/22 at 7:05 pm).
Real Madrid are the current holders of the famous European Cup, after winning a record-breaking 14th last season when they beat Liverpool in Paris.
Just like Liverpool last season, Spurs have also tasted defeat in the final of Europe’s biggest club competition when they were beaten by the Reds themselves in Madrid.
That was probably the start of the end for Spurs, with that Mauricio Pochettino team slowly being stripped away, including the man himself being sacked by Daniel Levy months later.
But now a serial winner in Conte is in the dugout and when Dempsey was asked who he thinks could win this season’s edition of the Champions League, he wasn’t shy to mention his former side, which left Henry in shock.
“I will pick a dark horse,” smiled Dempsey. “I am not biased at all. Maybe Tottenham. I think they might get it done. Conte’s a winner.
“What!?” responded Henry who screamed in shock.
Dempsey added: “They don’t have a great record in the Champions League. They are looking like they have gone strength to strength and they did well in the transfer window.”
Henry added: “That’s it. I am out.”
CAN CONTE END TOTTENHAM’S TROPHY DROUGHT?
Forget about the Champions League for a moment, Spurs would take a trophy of any kind because they are trying to end their drought.
From a realistic standpoint, the League Cup and the FA Cup would be targetted, but if Conte can do the unthinkable and win either the Premier League or European Cup, then he will probably go down as the club’s greatest-ever coach.
But before Spurs can think that far, they have to push themselves out of the group stages, with Marseille their opponents on Wednesday night in north London.
Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt and Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon – Eric Dier’s former club – are the other two teams in their group.
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