Chris Sutton has told BBC Radio 5 Live – as per BBC Live’s coverage – that Antonio Conte should be asking his Tottenham players why they could not play like they did in the second half, in the first half, against Sporting Lisbon.
Spurs went into the half-time break in the Capital on Wednesday night 1-0 down. Marcus Edwards came back to haunt his old side with a lovely effort from the edge of the area. A strike that seemed to catch Hugo Lloris in slow motion.
Spurs rallied in the second half, likely after having a rocket up their backsides from Conte at half-time. Rodrigo Bentancur leaped above Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adan to head home a corner. Spurs thought they won 2-1.
In the last few seconds, Harry Kane looked as if he whipped a ball into the top corner. But he was adjudged to have been offside, after a four-minute VAR check. The decision saw Antonio Conte go berserk, earning himself a red card.
While Spurs will be disappointed that the goal did not stand, it was a much better performance in the second half. But Sutton says Conte will be asking his players, why they did not play like they did in the second half – in the first 45.
“The second-half display was absolutely brilliant from Tottenham. The question Conte should be asking of his players is where was that display in the first half?”, Sutton said on Radio 5 Live, during his role as co-commentator.
Sutton: Conte should be asking question of Tottenham players
It is a theme that is beginning to emerge over the last few weeks. Tottenham look lethargic at the beginning of games and others take advantage. Manchester United and Newcastle United have beaten Tottenham in their last two games.
But why can they not start in the way they know they are capable of doing? They looked electric against a side that beat Porto and Benfica to the Portuguese title last season, during the second 45. Is it Conte’s tactics? Or the players?
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