Antonio Conte let frustration get the better of him after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lost possession one time too many in Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-2 Premier League defeat at home to Southampton, as reported by Football London.
He’s got a lot of qualities, Hojbjerg.
The Denmark international is a natural-born leader, installed as Southampton captain at the age of just 22. Authoritative, commanding, a warrior on the pitch; There’s a reason why Jose Mourinho liked him so much.
But enough of what Hojbjerg can do.
What he can’t do, however, is hold onto possession like Moussa Dembele in his playmaking pomp.
You won’t see the Denmark international skip effortlessly away from an onrushing midfielder. You won’t see him glide through the thirds before picking out a pinpoint through ball.
That’s just not his style. Not his game.
When Southampton slammed their collective feet onto the accelerator, asphyxiating Spurs in their old half on Wednesday night, Conte was crying out for a midfielder capable of grabbing the game by the proverbial ‘scruff of the neck’ and giving as good as he got.
Should Antonio Conte consider dropping Hojbjerg?
Unfortunately, Hojbjerg is at his most effective when breaking up opposition attacks before playing simple, slide-rule passes to his more technically-gifted team-mates.
When it comes to breaking the lines and resisting a high press, however, he can often look as comfortable as an acne-ridden teenager at a school disco.
Hojbjerg completed just 82 per cent of his passes as Spurs succumbed to a second-half Southampton surge in North London. The lowest tally of any of the five central midfielders on the pitch (WhoScored).
The always demanding Conte even let out a bellow of frustration after one particularly sloppy pass.
This weekend, Tottenham will be hoping to bounce back from a shock defeat away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With Hojbjerg once again falling short against opposition who like to push teams back in their own half and force mistakes in possession, Conte has a decision to make.
Does he give Rodrigo Bentancur, after two eye-catching cameos, his first Spurs start in the centre of the park? Does he take Hojbjerg out of the firing line?
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