Jamie Carragher has expressed his worry that Tottenham Hotspur might ‘stop’ performing at the very best in the Premier League if they do ‘okay in Europe’, as he told the Overlap.
The former defender highlighted Antonio Conte’s record at Chelsea and how, when there was no Europe, his side thrived because he was able to have ’the full week’ to train with his players in his own typical way.
Just like at Spurs, when Conte took the reigns at Stamford Bridge, he replaced Jose Mourinho, with the club ending up tenth during that campaign.
Chelsea had no Europe that season and Conte ended up winning the Premier League title, despite others being the favourite to do so.
With Spurs set to play Champions League football, Carragher questioned how it might affect them in the Premier League, if they do well in Europe, because Conte’s record isn’t that great, in that regard.
“I am a massive fan of Conte and I think it’s brilliant to have him in the Premier League,” said Carragher.
“But, one thing I would say, what could stop Tottenham is if they do okay in Europe. If you look at Conte’s record, even when he was at Chelsea, when he had no Europe, he’s got them for the full week, the way he trains and we know how tough the training is.
“I think his record, if there are a lot of games, I think it’s a lot more difficult.”
TOTTENHAM UNDER CONTE
If Conte wasn’t in the Spurs dugout, and they had the squad of players they have at their disposal now, then most would probably say they have a fight on their hands for Champions League football.
But with the all-action Italian running the ship, they are thinking beyond that and possibly hoping to close the gap on the Premier League’s dominant top-two – Manchester City and Liverpool.
Former Manchester United defender, Gary Neville, is expecting a big season from the London club and he has backed them to finish third.
That’s a realistic target for Spurs, but could they go one step further? Well, they beat Manchester City home and away last season.
Added with taking points off Liverpool, both home and away, so against the big guns, they can fire, it’s all about those unexpected results that hurt them the most and not doing it against the so-called lesser teams.
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