Tottenham and Antonio Conte hold CRISIS TALKS after Italian’s explosive rant

Tottenham and Antonio Conte have been in crisis talks following a shocking verbal attack on their players with chairman Daniel Levy set to gauge opinion before deciding his head coach’s future.

The Italian spoke to his players during a series of explosive post-match interviews in which he questioned their desire and attitude.

Conte also seemed to take aim at the Spurs board during his extraordinary and sustained spiel.

But during talks on Saturday night, Conte is understood to have explained to board members that his comments were only directed at the players and not at the hierarchy.

Levy is understood to have accepted Conte’s version of events and the Italian remained in his post on Sunday morning.

Daniel Levy is ready to gauge opinion before making a decision on the manager’s future

The London side squandered a 3-1 lead at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, drawing 3-3

However, the former Chelsea boss remains at risk with Levy preparing to speak to his most trusted confidants this week on the matter.

Tottenham won’t play again until April 3, when they travel to Everton, meaning Levy is in no immediate rush to make a decision.

The players and staff have had a few days off; Under normal circumstances, Conte would take the opportunity to return to Italy to see his family who still lives in Turin.

After AC Milan’s recent weak Champions League exit, the sentiment conveyed by well-placed sources was that the club was committed to continuing with Conte until the end of the season, when he is expected to leave.

However, the feeling that emanated on Sunday was that the situation was no longer so definitive.

Conte will almost certainly leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires with neither party having an interest in activating a 12-month extension clause.

After the game, Conte gave an explosive press conference pointing at his players

Conte will almost certainly leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

James Ward-Prowse (left) equalized in the 93rd minute of the match to level the score

sports mail revealed this month that Levy would only sack Conte before his contract expires in the summer if he felt his presence was having a detrimental impact on their Champions League qualifying hopes.

And with Conte’s comments sure to further fracture an already rocky relationship between owner and head coach, Levy may still expedite his exit if he thinks the boss’s volcanic outburst will hurt the team’s four best opportunities.

Several players have chafed at Conte’s form and intensity and believe the negativity he broadcasts in public has affected morale.

Saturday’s scathing criticism of the squad has not gone down well with several players, and the disconnect between Conte and his team worsens.