Premier League English

‘People would be saying Jose out’ – Antonio Conte warned as Tottenham below par

The accusation has been hurled at Antonio Conte for apparently ‘playing with the handbrake on’ as Tottenham struggled in front of goal against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

With just two shots on target against the German side, Spurs drew 0-0 in their group stage match. Although it was to all intents and purposes still a solid point, the feeling is that they could have come away with all three instead.

Surprisingly Heung-min Son was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal on what was his 50th Champions League appearance.

The latest result still puts them in a second spot in the group, having taken four points from their opening three matches but talkSPORT host Jason Cundy believes Conte needs to remove the leash on his attackers to let loose.

“If Jose Mourinho had delivered that and at the weekend, there would be people phoning up saying ‘Jose out’,” Cundy told The Sports Bar.

“Son is a shadow. He’s one of those lads you’d love to play with. His energy, he tries and gives everything he’s got.

“I know he got a hat-trick when he came off the bench [against Leicester], but he’d still be out there tomorrow trying to score. It was one of those games where he wasn’t hitting the target. Harry Kane was off it.

“I wasn’t that impressed with Frankfurt either, they should have hit the target.

“Spurs could have come away winning 2-0 or losing it 1-0. A draw was a fair result.

“Spurs are playing with the handbrake on. He [Conte] is not giving them full rein to take advantage of what they’ve got up top.

“Away from home in the Champions League, a point is never a bad point.

“You look at the chances Spurs had, especially Son, they could have had two or three tonight.

“If Spurs had come away two or three up, we’d be saying ‘good performance and defensively solid’.

“It was a fair result. I think most Spurs fans will be happy, but they need to do and see more in that final third.”

Cundy and Sports Bar co-host Jamie O’Hara are in agreement that Son will be under more pressure now, especially after his hat-trick after coming off the bench against the Foxes in September.

Cundy said: “The problem Spurs had tonight was literally the final decision. Cross, shot or pass. They were all really bad.

“Son is under a little bit [of pressure]. He got the hat-trick, but he’s not quite at the level.

“He’s trying so hard.”

O’Hara added: “He’s probably trying too hard.”