Report: Conte was screaming at Tottenham’s players to pass the ball to £32m man during Everton game

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Antonio Conte was screaming for Tottenham Hotspur’s players to pass the ball to Sergio Reguilon at one stage during their clash with Everton yesterday, the Athletic report.

Conte gets angry

Tottenham’s slow build-up play apparently was frustrating their new coach.

He was ‘wildly’ gesticulating for Tottenham to play a quick diagonal to the £32 million full-back (Sky Sports), as he looked to disrupt Everton’s defensive shape.

However, Spurs’ players were more content at playing at a slower pass and knocking it along the back-line.

As a result the ball never got to Reguilon, which caused frustration from Conte.

Tottenham’s passive build-up play was part of the reason why they didn’t manage to muster up a shot on target in their 0-0 draw at Goodison Park.

Spurs struggled to break down Everton’s back-line, and Conte clearly still needs more time to get the team playing with the intensity that he demands.

Tottenham have been building up fairly slowly under both Nuno and Jose Mourinho.

Spurs’ last two managers haven’t necessarily demanded the most swift tempos to their passing games.

But Conte was his Tottenham players to show more confidence in the ball, and take more risks with their passing.

Improvements pending?

When Reguilon is in space in future he may well find himself utilised more often.

But Conte has had limited training sessions to work with his Tottenham team to date.

Spurs still actually had opportunities to test Everton’s defence, but their final ball was often wasteful, in what was a rather frustrating encounter.

Conte does at least have two weeks to work with some of Tottenham’s squad now.

The international break presents a decent opportunity to improve those Spurs players who aren’t representing their countries – such as Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele.

So far both Alli and Ndombele have been left on the bench in Conte’s first two games in charge.

However, if Tottenham can find a way to ease either of the midfielders back into their side then the speed of their build-up play could be quickened, as they are two of the most creative players at Conte’s disposal now.