Soccer

    'Maybe I am not good' - Antonio Conte considering Tottenham future after Burnley defeat

    Planet Sport writerStaff Writer24 February 2022
    Antonio Conte dejected during Tottenham defeat to Burnley

    Antonio Conte dejected during Tottenham defeat to Burnley

    Frustration appears to be getting the best of Italian after Tottenham inconsistencies laid bare at Turf Moor.

    Antonio Conte hinted he is ready to walk away from Tottenham following their 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.

    Just a few days ago Conte was in jubilent mood after Spurs produced a superb display to beat champions Manchester City 3-2 at the Etihad.
    The defeat to Burnley was their fourth in five games, though, and it has left Conte publicly questioning whether he is the right man to turn the club around and get them back challenging for trophies.
    After the match, a dejected Conte said: "I don't want to comment on the game, only the situation. In the last five games we lost four times. This is the reality, it's not about the performances.
    "This is the reality. No one deserves this type of situation, the club, me, the players, the fans, but this is the reality.
    "I came here to try to improve the situation in Tottenham but maybe in this moment I am not so good. For me it's very frustrating because I know we are working a lot and trying to get the best of every single player, but this reality is this.
    "I am too honest to close my eyes…I think we will see how the situation is and make an assessment."
    Prior to their win at City, Spurs had lost to Chelsea, Southampton and Wolves, a run interrupted by a 3-1 win over Brighton in the FA Cup.
    Though they are still only three points from fifth place with games in hand on West Ham above them, Conte said their form was closer to that of a side battling relegation.
    "I am not used to this type of situation," he added. "The situation is not changing. Someone has to speak about the race for the top, but the reality is in the last five games we are fighting for the relegation zone.
    "This is the truth…I don't want to close my eyes. I have to take responsibility and I'm open to every decision because I want to help Tottenham. From the first day I arrived I want to help.
    "I repeat: I am too honest to close my eyes and continue in this way, and also take my salary, it's not right in this moment…
    "I want to try to improve the situation and also to make assessment with the club because if we continue in this way, maybe we have to pay great attention because this league we can finish 10th, 12th, 13th the same way that when I arrive here, the same position."
    For Burnley, victory on the back of the 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday appeared to vindicate Dyche's belief that his side have never been far away from where they need to be.
    The Clarets had won only one league game all season before the weekend but these two results have injected real hope at Turf Moor as Leeds, Everton and Brentford are drawn into the relegation scrap.
    "It's only a couple of wins, it's not a done season, but it really layers up the belief in what we do," Dyche added.
    "Every season is tough, every season is a restart for us and there are points within a season where we restart.
    "We did that against Arsenal (a 0-0 draw on January 23) and we've taken nine points from six games, four of them against what you might call top-four sides with four clean sheets.
    "Now it's about building on that. We had a win at Brighton which was very convincing but can you back it up? I thought we did that and I'm very, very pleased with that."