Tottenham boss questions his future after the team’s recent losses
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte says he is prepared to leave the club if that would help improve a run of results he describes as a "disaster" following a 1-0 defeat by Burnley.
Tottenham Hotspurs boss Antonio Conte suggests he may not be the right man to manage the club following the team’s fourth loss in five premier league games.
The most recent of these losses was Burnley who secured victory with a solitary goal in the 71st-minute.
52-year-old Conte was visibly disappointed after the match and headed straight to the dressing room on his own before emerging for his post-match media engagements.
Speaking about his current plight, Conte said
"I am not used to this situation. I am trying everything but the situation is not changing,"
added the Italian.
"I am available and open with the club to do what the club wants.”
"I want to help the club, I work a lot, I work very hard. I am giving 20 hours a day to Tottenham and the other four hours I sleep but it is not enough.”
Conte has only been in charge for 22 games since joining the team in November 2021, at which time he was expected to stay on until 2023.
"The performance can be good and the commitment was good but we lost. For me the situation is unacceptable. To lose four of five [games] for Tottenham has to be a disaster.”
He has suggested recently he is not happy with the situation he has inherited at Tottenham.
With the Spurs now in eighth place and seven points off fourth, his future with the team is uncertain.
"In the last five games, we are playing like we are in relegation [trouble],"
he said.
"This is the reality. Maybe there is something wrong.
"I want to take responsibility. If I have that, I'm open to every decision. I have ambition, I hate to lose. To take my salary, it is not right at this moment.
"I want to help Tottenham, from the first day I arrive, but four defeats in five... This is the first time in my life this type of situation has happened."
"At the moment we could finish 10th, 12th, 13th. We could finish in the same position as when I arrived here."
When asked specifically by another media outlet whether he would still be in charge for Saturday's game at Leeds, Conte walked away from the interview without answering the question.
Breakdown of Conte's troubled time at Spurs (BBC Sport)
2 November 2021: Conte appointed as Tottenham manager until summer 2023
7 November: The new Spurs boss says the "heart" shown by his players in his first league game in charge - a 0-0 draw at Everton - gave him confidence
1 December: Days after losing to NS Mura in the Europa Conference League, Conte says turning around Tottenham's fortunes is the "biggest challenge" of his managerial career
19 December: Conte disappointed to "only get one point" after a 2-2 home draw against Liverpool
3 January 2022: Spurs beat Watford to extend their unbeaten run to eight league games since Conte's arrival
21 January: The Spurs boss says he hopes "the club will listen" to him and deliver his January transfer requests
23 January: After losing to Chelsea in the league, Conte says the gap between Spurs and the top teams is "very large"
31 January: Spurs sign Juventus pair Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski but let four senior players - including Dele Alli - leave on transfer deadline day
4 February: Conte says Spurs "can't make more mistakes" in the transfer market, hinting he would like more control over signings
13 February: Spurs have "a long road" ahead of them after a 2-0 home defeat by Wolves, says Conte
17 February: In an interview with Sky Sports Italia, the Italian manager says Tottenham's squad was weakened in the January transfer window
18 February: Conte criticises media coverage of the interview, saying "someone is trying to create a problem"
19 February: The former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager says the Tottenham players could be the best group of his career after their 3-2 win at Manchester City
23 February: Conte questions if he is the right person for the job after losing at Burnley - Spurs' fourth defeat in five league games.
(BBC Sport)
