Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy clarified why he felt compelled to take action and terminate Antonio Conte’s contract as manager with only 10 games left to play this season.
Tottenham have confirmed that Conte has been removed from his position as manager barely a week after his explosive press conference meltdown with the colorful Italian criticising his squad and the culture of the club following a 3-3 draw at Southampton. Conte leaving North London at the end of this season had been viewed as a foregone conclusion and Levy was compelled to move in swiftly to prevent the situation exacerbating in any way.
Levy made clear in a short statement released on the club website late Sunday evening why he had no recourse but to part ways with Conte at this stage of the season.
Levy declared: “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.”
Levy apparently felt Spurs’ charge for Champions League qualification could end after the fallout with the manager and obviously decided that the club’s best bet was to end Conte’s reign without any further deliberation.
The latest update from Spurs confirms Cristian Stellini will be their acting head coach for the remainder of the season, with Ryan Mason his assistant, which may come as a surprise considering Mason served as the interim when the controversial Jose Mourinho was sacked in early 2021.
Conte’s final press conference will certainly hold its place in Premier League history, as he had claimed to a room of stunned reporters: “I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart [in], I see only 11 players that play for themselves.
“Why is it happening? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah.
“They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way.”
Once news broke that the Italian had flown back to his home country following the draw at St. Mary’s, speculation surrounding Conte’s future went into overdrive in regards to who could be his long-term successor. Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is the sentimental favorite although the recently sacked Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has also emerged as a front-runner.