Tottenham Hotspur are now on the lookout for a new manager after parting company with Antonio Conte.
The Spurs boss left by mutual consent in wake of his explosive post-Southampton interview two weeks ago.
Since Conte left Tottenham, news outlets have been reporting on what life was like at Hotspur Way under him.
ESPN have published an in-depth article on ‘transfer disagreements, public criticism and soulless football’ at N17.
One subject covered at length is that of Conte’s relentless training regime and how the players grew tired of it.
Few will forget the grueling training sessions in the pre-season tour of South Korea.
Harry Kane was sick by the side of the pitch, Son Heung-min collapsed and others visibly struggled too.
ESPN reported how Conte featured multiple double sessions and even made his players train on the morning of games.
In addition, the Italian allegedly revised training programmes at short notice, or didn’t release the schedule until the last moment.
This lack of notice meant players struggled to schedule their personal time, especially those with families, added the report.
ESPN also notes how Son looks like a shadow of the player he was last season, when he shared the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah.
‘Sources close to multiple players believe Conte’s training regime is a significant factor in his decline,’ they wrote of the £192,000-a-week (Spotrac) star.
‘Many citing the repetitive nature eventually alienating a group once willing to exhaust themselves if the end product was worth it.’
Difficult season
The 2022-23 campaign has proven grueling for most of the Premier League’s top players, what with the World Cup shoe-horned mid-season.
It’s not surprising that some of the best players in the division have struggled this term. This isn’t FIFA, it’s real life, and players aren’t machines.
Add Conte’s particularly grueling training regime and it’s no surprise Son has looked like a shadow of himself.
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