Tottenham Hotspur Parts Ways with Manager Antonio Conte
By Ben Church and Homero De la Fuente, CNN
Tottenham Hotspur has announced that it has parted ways with manager Antonio Conte “by mutual agreement” less than two years after he took over the English Premier League club. The decision comes at a crucial moment in the Premier League table, with Tottenham currently sitting fourth and fighting for a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Conte’s Performance at Tottenham
In his first year with the club, Conte successfully led Tottenham to qualify for the Champions League in 2023-22. However, the team was eliminated from the round of 16 by AC Milan this year. In addition, Tottenham was recently eliminated from the FA Cup after a loss to second-tier Sheffield United in March.
Tottenham’s Statement
Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy released a statement on Sunday, saying “We have 10 Premier League games remaining, and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our club and amazing, loyal supporters.”
Conte’s Scathing Analysis and Emotional Post-Match Media Conference
The decision to part ways with the manager comes on the heels of Conte’s scathing analysis of the team following its 3-3 draw against Southampton on March 18. A furious Conte targeted the players’ attitude, the ownership, and the culture of the club in an emotional post-match media conference after his side threw away a two-goal lead. “For me, this is unacceptable. We are winning 3-1, in control, and concede two goals,” he said. “I think it’s better to go into the problem, we are not a team. We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart [into it].”
Conte’s Comments on Tottenham’s Story
Conte went on to criticize Tottenham’s ownership and the culture of the club, saying “Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”
Spurs’ Recent Achievements
While Tottenham has won a League Cup final in 2008 and reached the Champions League final in 2019, the club’s last top-English title dates back more than half a century.
Replacement for the Remainder of the Season
Cristian Stellini will take over as acting manager at Tottenham for the remainder of the season, while Ryan Mason will assume the role of assistant head coach. Conte has yet to comment on his departure from Spurs.
The-CNN-Wire
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