MATT BARLOW: Antonio Conte’s message to his next employer is clear… NONE of this is his fault
MATT BARLOW: Antonio Conte’s message to his next employer is clear…NONE of this is his fault. His volcanic eruption at Southampton was a beleaguered man finally at the end of his rope.
Even for a manager with as volcanic a reputation as Antonio Conte, it was an astonishing tirade, fueled by more than just the sheer disappointment of an injury-time equalizer.
This was a wild release of pent up frustration from a beleaguered man at the end of his rope and near the end of his contract.
Maybe that’s the Tottenham factor. Maybe it should carry a health warning. This has been a stressful and emotional season for Conte on different levels and he is about to end his winning streak.
Was it as simple as that? An outburst directed at his players to accompany the one directed at the fans after they booed the team against AC Milan. One to summon Chairman Daniel Levy to the negotiating table to discuss severance pay and a way to end his North London escapades.
Would they be better off having someone else guide them through the closing phase of the season? Would you prefer to retire to Turin to rest and recuperate after your recent operation? A ‘come and fire me plea,’ quipped a joker in the press room.
Antonio Conte’s outburst was the wild release of a man at the end of his rope, and near the end of his contract.
The Italian coach generally does not give up and prefers to use these public outbursts tactically.
Perhaps, although that would mean a change of tactics for Conte. He is not usually a quitter. He prefers to use these public outbursts tactically. He did it last season, after poor performances at Mura and Burnley. He values the technique to revolutionize his players, to focus minds, although he won’t see many of them for a while when they leave for international duty.
It could be your call to arms for the final push. Who’s ready for this? In addition, it will carry messages intended for your next employers, whoever they may be. Claiming to have listened to Tottenham’s trophyless time was not his fault because it is a club set to fail, because the fans, the players and those who write about his (lack of) progress embrace this cycle of doom and not even him. could change this.