Ally McCoist has stated that he finds it ‘incredible’ that Antonio Conte doesn’t usually travel with his Tottenham Hotspur players to away games, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast on Tuesday morning.
Tottenham are currently in France ahead of their crucial Champions League showdown against Marseille on Tuesday night – avoid defeat and Spurs will progress through to the knockout stages.
Following Conte’s sending-off, after he watched VAR overturn Harry Kane’s stoppage-time winner against Sporting Lisbon last week, he has been banned from the touchline at the Stade Velodrome
Former Scotland striker McCoist was told by talkSPORT presenter Laura Woods that Conte will travel with his players because ‘it’s his last chance to speak with them’ given that he will have to be in the stands.
But when she also shared that’s usually not the case because the Italian ‘travels separately to the players and the other coaches, it left McCoist pretty surprised.
“Another piece of information, normally, Antonio Conte doesn’t travel on the team coach, he travels separately to the players and the other coaches,” said Laura Woods.
McCoist replied: “Seriously?! You are joking?!”
Laura Woods added: “But this time, he’s going to travel with them because it’s his last chance to speak with the players. From there, they won’t be able to communicate with each other. He will be in the stands with his assistant coach and his brother. Then they will pass messages down to the touchline. Does that surprise you that he doesn’t travel?”
McCoist responded: “You have absolutely shocked me there. I mean I find that incredible. So, normal away games, he doesn’t travel with his team?!”
Laura Woods added: “Yes, that’s what has been reported.”
TOTTENHAM’S BIGGEST TEST UNDER CONTE
There is no doubt that Tottenham have the quality to outshine Marseille, but in such a pressure game, this is going to test their mental strength more than anything else.
It’s going to be a hostile atmosphere in Marseille, and given how Spurs have performed of late, they can’t afford to start slowly again.
It’s all good handing a team like Bournemouth a 2-0 lead and then coming back to win 3-2, but if they do the same tonight, then they will be heading to the Europa League, instead.
And given that Conte seemingly wants more additions to his squad in January, then it’s crucial that you can lure those players with Champions League football.
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