The Mail claims that Antonio Conte is tempted by a return to Italy and rejoining Juventus following his Tottenham side suffering a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday night – despite Spurs still sitting in third place in the table.
Conte, 53, has made a huge improvement on a faltering Tottenham side since he arrived. He has taken a team that looked as though they were struggling to qualify for Europe at all – back into the Champions League, ahead of Arsenal.
This season, Spurs have looked good. They have picked up seven wins in 11 Premier League matches and after four games in the Champions League, they sit top of their group. But, they are four points behind leaders Arsenal, now.
Against United, familiar cracks arose. Tottenham’s inability under Conte to compete with the top-six sides. This season, his team were battered by Arsenal and somehow managed to claw a lucky draw against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
Now, the Mail says that after the loss at Old Trafford, Conte is keen on a return to Juventus. The club he managed until 2014. Max Allegri is under pressure. The Mail say “there is a strong feeling in Italy” Conte wants to go back.
Conte tempted by Juventus return after Tottenham defeat after 2-0 loss
All the noise beforehand was how happy Conte was at Tottenham. Two successive wins in the league against Brighton and Everton, and the effort Spurs made following the sad death of Gian Piero Ventrone, had made Conte happy.
But after the defeat to United, his body language did seem poor. Of course, a loss to a close rival will do that. But it was more than that. It was a sign that Spurs are still some way off competing with the best clubs in the country.
A top-four finish and establishing themselves once again as a Champions League side would be a good campaign. But Conte is not that patient. He will want results sooner rather than later and if he does not get them, Juve are waiting.
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