Antonio Conte was RIGHT to blast Tottenham stars, they don’t bloody win and have no good senior pros says Graeme Souness
ANTONIO CONTE was right to blast Tottenham players as they don’t win anything, claims Graeme Souness.
The Italian left Spurs last Sunday after his shocking rant at the club and his players after a 3-3 draw with Southampton.
Conte was critical of his team’s attitude and the owner, citing that many top managers have failed to lift a trophy there.
Liverpool legend Souness believes that he was right to slam Tottenham stars.
He told the Mail: “Ultimately, Conte was right, it comes back to the players.
“They might talk like big players and big characters, but are they?
“I would suggest not, because they don’t bloody win anything.
“And what is a big player? Is it someone who gathers those around him and makes them better? Or is it just about being selfish and looking after your own game?
“As a manager, you have no chance of being successful unless you have good senior pros. That will never change. I would suggest, therein lies your problem at Spurs.
“Those characters help the manager, they do his job for him in the dressing room, because you can’t be having a pop at them every week. They keep the weak personalities in line and drag them through difficult parts of a season.
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“I’m not sure Tottenham have any of those players and it strikes me they are crying out for senior pros who will take responsibility, dig others out and be prepared to go out on a limb for the cause.
“They should be winning trophies. They’re based in London, so it’s no problem attracting players. They pay the wages. They’ve got the best football stadium in the world and I can’t tell you a better training ground I’ve been to.
“Everything is in place. They are the great underachievers.”
Souness also cites some personal challenges as to why Conte seemed to have had enough at Spurs.
He had recently undergone gallbladder surgery, his family still live in Italy and the death of coach Gian Piero Ventrone and friend Gianluca Vialli must have hit him hard.
Spurs have not won a trophy since 2008 when they lifted the League Cup.
They remain in the hunt to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Cristian Stellini‘s side sit fourth two points above Newcastle, who have two matches in hand.