Champions League

ARSENAL legend Paul Merson has told Tottenham to sack Antonio Conte NOW and replace him with the man everyone knows will replace him.The Italian’s future was plunged into serious doubt this week after they meekly bowed out of the Champions League.
Antonio Conte’s future at Tottenham remains unclearCredit: Rex
Spurs produced a tepid performance as they failed to overturn a 1-0 deficit against AC Milan with their manager receiving boos and jeers from supporters when he replaced attacker Dejan Kulusevski with centre-back Davinson Sanchez for the final minutes.
Conte’s future had already been the subject of much scrutiny with his lucrative contract set to expire this summer and no talks to extend his stay.
That has led to speculation over potential replacements for him at Spurs, with many wanting their ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is out of work currently, to return.
And former England attacker Merson has told the Daily Star to just get on with it.
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He said: “Mauricio Pochettino is going to be appointed the manager of Tottenham in the summer, so why not get him now? There is no point messing about.
“What’s the point in keeping Antonio Conte, do you want to get in the top four or not? Spurs have just gone out of two competitions and it’s now been 15 years since their last trophy.
“I really don’t like to see managers get the sack as they are humans but at the same time you’ve got to shake things up.
“I would do it now. Spurs are a big football club and are currently going nowhere.
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“I was talking to a Tottenham season ticket holder on the school run in midweek and I told him that Wednesday night against AC Milan was the worst I’ve ever seen from a Spurs side. It really was that bad. He agreed.”
Merson added: “For me, Pochettino should come on board as soon as possible. He could lift the players in the race for fourth and it also gives him time to prepare for next season.
“It’s such a win-win as Conte no longer looks like he wants to be there anymore.”
Spurs sacked Poch was sacked by Tottenham after five-and-a-half years in charge back in November 2019.
Despite not winning a trophy for Spurs, he guided the club to four consecutive Champions League finishes.
Prior to his arrival, Spurs had finished in the top four in just two of their previous 22 seasons in the Premier League.
He also took the club to the Champions League final in 2019, but Liverpool prevailed as they won 2-0.
After replacing Tim Sherwood in 2014, Poch took charge of 293 games, winning 159, losing 72 and drawing on 62 occasions.
Mauricio Pochettino is the man that many fans want to return to SpursCredit: AFP More

ANTONIO CONTE has revealed that he is in full agreement with Richarlison that the Brazilian has been “s***” this season.And in an explosive press conference, the Tottenham boss also said that the 25-year-old had “scored no goals” and labelled the forward “selfish”.
Antonio Conte says he agrees that Richarlison has had a ‘s***’ seasonCredit: Alamy
The Brazilian launched a stunning blast at his boss for benching himCredit: Alamy
Spurs splashed out £60m to Everton last summer to sign Richarlison but he has only managed two goals in 25 appearances after an injury-ravaged campaign.
He was brought on for the final 20 minutes of his team’s Champions League draw with AC Milan on Wednesday, a result which eliminated them from the competition, and afterwards the star let rip at his manager for benching him and said that it has been “s***” this season.
However, ahead of their game with Nottingham Forest tomorrow, Conte said: “First of all I watched the interview of Richarlison. He didn’t criticise me. He said his season was s*** and he’s right. 
“His season has been not good. He had injuries, played and scored in the Champions League and then went to the World Cup and then had a serious injury. 
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“He’s scored no goals for us. I think he was really honest to say his season was not good. His season has not finished yet. If he deserves to play I’ll give him the opportunity.
“For the rest of the interview, I think he made a mistake. When you speak of ‘I’ and not ‘us’ you are being selfish.
“I say to my players if we want to build something important and win a trophy we have to speak with ‘we’ not with ‘I’, because otherwise you’re thinking of yourself.
“He made a mistake and he apologised and it was good for me to clarify with the team again about this. In this aspect we have to improve. We have to be more of a team and show more spirit positive, especially in negative moments.”
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Conte continued: “Sometimes it’s not enough to be a good guy. You have to to show the right desire and fight to win the game and the duels, to be nasty. I think that sometimes we are a bit soft, but I’m the coach and I’m the first responsible for this to happen and it doesn’t happen every time.
“I have to improve the team and I have to improve the spirit of my team. It always happened in the past and I hope it happens here.”
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Pressure is mounting on Conte as speculation over whether he will stay or go at Spurs rumbles on.
He added: “Again my future. In this moment, the most important thing is to be focused on the league. 
“You know what is my opinion, what is my desire. I say to you a lot of times that the situation that I have found, and we are far to aspire to be competitive to fight to win. 
“I repeat this for a long time. We need time and patience. I see the environment has no patience or the environment does not want to see the reality. 
“The club knows very well what is my situation and they know what are my thoughts. We can’t do miracles. If I am to take the people as a target. I am not this person. The reality is this.
“We’ll see what happens in the future. I’m not stupid to kill myself. Until the end though I am ready to die for this club but then we’ll see, I’m not too stupid to keep killing myself.” More

GABBY AGBONLAHOR has slammed Risharlison and thinks he should be banished to the U18s following his rant about Antonio Conte’s team selection.The Brazilian forward hit out at the Italian after he was benched for Tottenham’s Champions League defeat to AC Milan.
Gabby Agbonlahor has hit out at Richarlison over his rant at Antonio ConteCredit: The Sun
He thinks that Richarlison should train with the U18sCredit: Alamy
Richarlison believed that he should have started the game following his appearances against West Ham and Chelsea.
He said: “That’s what I didn’t understand, too [being a substitute]. It was going well, in a good sequence, two wins against West Ham and Chelsea.

“Suddenly, [assistant boss Cristian Stellini] put me on the bench, against Wolverhampton he put me on for five minutes. I asked why? They didn’t tell me anything.
“Let’s see what [Conte] will say tomorrow, but there are no fools here either, I’m a professional, I work every day and I want to play. There are minutes left, time left.
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“This season, excuse the word, it’s been s***, because I don’t have minutes, I suffered a little with the injury. But, when I enter the field, I give my life. I came from two games well, I think that’s it, I think I should have played and I don’t have to cry about it.”
And his outburst has caused Agbonlahor to take aim at him with his overall performance since making his £60million move to Tottenham from Everton last summer.
He told talkSPORT: “Richarlison, £60 million he cost. Premier League goals zero, assists, two.
“Always moaning, always rolling around on the floor.
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“He’s come out and said he’s had a positive moment and say’s Conte put me on the bench. His positive moment is two games, zero goals – I don’t’ get it?
“Positive for £60m is a couple of goals, a couple of assists. So don’t be moaning when you’re not performing when you’re given a chance.
“If I’m Conte and Conte looks like that kind of manager, I’m sure his boots and kit are in the U18 dressing room this morning.”
The 25-year-old has featured 25 times for the North London side this season but has only scored twice, both of which came in the Champions League. More