Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim has praised Tottenham manager Antonio Conte on his club’s website – claiming his tactical changes made Sporting “suffer” on Wednesday night and that his side could not cope with the switch.
Tottenham were woeful in the first 45. Sporting went into the break 1-0 up thanks to Marcus Edwards’ goal, but it could – and should – have been worse for Spurs. Sporting had numerous chances to get themselves another goal.
But Spurs were much improved in the second half. Having missed numerous chances, with Eric Dier guilty of a couple of huge chances that fizzed past the post, Rodrigo Bentancur climbed highest to head past goalkeeper Antonio Adan.
Harry Kane then scored deep into injury time, with Sporting manager Amorim unable to watch. But Kane’s goal was ruled out by VAR after a lengthy check. Conte responded angrily, earning a red card. But Amorim was full of praise.
“They came out from the break with different movements because they have a very good coach who changed the way they play. We suffered due to the merits of Tottenham and their coach. We tried to change things up, but we couldn’t.”
Sporting boss Amorim praises Tottenham manager Conte
If the change in Tottenham’s intensity, pressing, attacking quality and tactics was down to Conte – then it was remarkable. The likelihood is, that it was. Bentancur’s goal then gave Spurs, and the fans, a new-found energy.
But it does beg the question, why do Spurs fail to play like this in every match? Chris Sutton said Conte should be asking that of his Spurs stars in the dressing room after the match. It is a result that keeps everything alive in Group D.
Spurs are now looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday – after a run of two losses and a draw. They go to Bournemouth, where they take on a Cherries side currently managed by caretaker Gary O’Neil.
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