Conte compares Tottenham player with ‘personality’ to 55-cap Chelsea star

Follow us on Google Discover

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte compared Ben Davies to Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta following Spurs’ 3-0 win over Norwich City.

Tottenham claimed a convincing win on Sunday afternoon with Lucas Moura opening the scoring with a cracker.

Davinson Sanchez and Son Heung-min added second-half goals to secure a 3-0 win, with Tottenham now winning three of four Premier League games under Conte. Suddenly, Tottenham seem upwardly mobile once again.

Conte has quickly moved his side into a 3-4-3 system, with Ben Davies playing a key role in the switch.

Conte compares Tottenham ace Davies to Chelsea star

Davies has been used as a left-back by Tottenham since arriving from Swansea City in 2014.

Yet under Conte, Davies has quickly become his first-choice left-sided centre-half in Tottenham’s back three.

Davies is turning in impressive displays under Conte in that position, going from an unheralded squad player to one of the first names on the team sheet.

And that switch from full-back to centre-back in a three is nothing new under Conte.

Cesar Azpilicueta did the same at Chelsea, and Conte has struck that comparison.

Speaking to Football.London, Conte suggested he can get the best out of Davies as a centre back in a three, just as he did with Azpilicueta.

Davies has the ‘personality’ and ‘ability’

Conte added that Davies was “really focused” and “playing very well”, praising the Welshman’s recent outings.

“Ben is playing very well and I think in that role (left of back three) I can get out the best of him,” said Conte. “It happens the same with Azpilicueta.

“On the three central defenders it’s important to be good defensively but it’s important to play with the football. When you find a team that is defending low and also to play, it’s very important in this system. I need a player who has that personality and ability.

“We are talking a really good person, a really good guy. He’s really focused and playing very well.”

Tottenham host Rennes in the Europa Conference League on Thursday before travelling to take on Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday (2pm kick off).