Hutchison shares chat he had with Zola about Tottenham boss, and Eriksen

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Don Hutchison has told The Weekend Review that he spoke to Gianfranco Zola about Tottenham manager Antonio Conte – and Christian Eriksen. The Brentford star has been linked with a sensational return to Tottenham.

Spurs are looking good to finish fourth place as we enter the final stretch of Premier League matches. Arsenal suffered defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night, while Spurs smashed Newcastle 5-1 on Sunday afternoon.

It leaves Spurs in fourth on goal difference – while Arsenal have a game in hand over Tottenham, but that game in hand is a trip to third-placed Chelsea. Hutchison spoke of Conte’s revolution at Spurs since November.

He shared details of a conversation he had with Italian legend Zola – who told him how Conte dropped Tottenham target Eriksen. The Dane, in turn, upped his work rate and became integral to Inter’s Serie A title win.

Hutchison likened it to what Conte has done at Spurs: “I was chatting to Gianfranco Zola. He was talking about Antonio Conte, the job that he does, the brilliant manager that he is.

“Christian Eriksen came into the conversation, he said he played a couple of games under Conte. Conte said no, he doesn’t do the job I want him to do [at Inter]. Bombed him for two or three games,” Hutchison continued.

“He reacted in the right way, became integral to Inter winning the league. Same sort of scenario at Tottenham, he has laid down the marker to his players, if you don’t follow me – you’ll be gone, or I will.”

Hutchison on Conte, Eriksen: All Tottenham players backing Italian

Conte has revived a woeful Tottenham under Nuno Espirito Santo. He has improved fringe players – Ben Davies, Matt Doherty, Harry Winks etc. The best are at their best – Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero.

His formation is getting the best out of the players he has at his disposal and the signings he has made – Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur – have been incredible. Everything points towards Spurs finishing in fourth.