Tottenham Hotspur staff have key Antonio Conte concern over academy players

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Some members of the academy staff at Tottenham Hotspur have developed a key concern about Antonio Conte. The Italian also keeps proving that their trepidations are well-placed.

That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports members of Tottenham’s academy staff feel there is little chance for the club’s young players to break into the senior squad whilst Conte is in charge. Instead, they now fear the 53-year-old is stagnating their development.

Previous managers at Tottenham have sought to bring through the cream of the emerging crop in Spurs’ development folds. Yet Conte has continually sought to stick with the senior stars at his disposal. But he is now causing friction with those in charge of the youth teams.

Antonio Conte now concerns some in the academy staff at Tottenham Hotspur

Even Jose Mourinho sought to afford Japhet Tanganga a chance to show his worth in their first-team whilst in charge of Spurs. The Portuguese has traditionally been reluctant to rely on youth talents throughout his career. But Tanganga enjoyed his most success under him.

Tanganga earned 21 of his 48 senior appearances for Tottenham in all competitions under Mourinho. The 23-year-old Spurs product had only played once under Mauricio Pochettino and has since played eight times under Nuno Espirito Santo and in 16 fixtures under Conte.

Oliver Skipp also established his presence under Nuno before Conte took over Tottenham in November 2021. While Pochettino gave Harry Kane his real breakthrough after debuting under Andre Villas-Boas. Yet Conte has not followed suit during his 16 months at the helm.

Antonio Conte continues to show their trepidations are well-placed at Spurs

Now, some members of the academy staff at Tottenham fear for Spurs’ young players with Conte’s stubbornness yet to break. Alfie Devine, 18, Romaine Mundle, 19, and Pape Matar Sarr, 20, are the only players aged under 21 to make any of the Italian’s squads this season.

Mundle is also yet to feature under Conte so far this term. He made the Tottenham bench against Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round in January. While Devine has taken a seat on the bench four times but he earned his only appearance in stoppage time against Pompey.