ANTONIO CONTE has left Tottenham’s stars stunned and some of the squad want him axed now.
The angry Spurs manager returned to Italy for a short break yesterday with the club still reeling after his astonishing rant following Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Southampton.
The first-team squad know it is impossible that £15million-a-year Conte — out of contract this summer — will be in charge next season.
There is a feeling among the players that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy could even sack the Italian before the next Premier League game against Everton on April 3.
Equally, there are a few players who would be happy for Conte to get the chop during the international break.
Conte had slammed the players — and also attacked Tottenham owners — in an extraordinary outburst on Saturday, calling the situation “unacceptable”.
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A furious Conte said: “They don’t play for something important.
“They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.
“It is easy this way. Tottenham’s story is this.
“For 20 years there is the owner but they never won something but why?
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“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.
“Until now I try to hide the situation but not now because, I repeat, I don’t want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also un- acceptable for the fans.”
It is widely accepted in football circles that Conte was accurate when he slammed the situation at Tottenham.
But many also questioned his decision to make his feelings known publicly, which means his departure is now certain.
The North Londoners have won one trophy since the current owners took over the club in 2001 and that was the EFL Cup in 2008.
And SunSport revealed that club chiefs were furious when Tottenham tumbled out of the FA Cup to Sheffield United on March 1 after starting Harry Kane on the bench.
Spurs have had 11 different managers in that time, including three since the 2019 departure of Mauricio Pochettino.
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The Argentine coach took them to the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid in 2019 but was sacked six months later.
Some fans would love to see Pochettino return and he left the club on good terms with Levy.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
