Agbonlahor: Antonio Conte’s Matt Doherty decision may cost Tottenham big time after reveal
Antonio Conte will not win a trophy at Tottenham if he does not start to focus on winning rather than not losing, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker delivered his verdict after Conte explained his decision to continually snub Matt Doherty.
The 30-year-old was handed his first Premier League start of the season as Spurs beat Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (8 October).
He is set for an extended run in the starting XI with Emerson Royal suspended for Tottenham’s next two league games.
Royal had featured in all of their fixtures this season but he was shown a straight red card in the defeat to Arsenal last week (1 October).
As quoted by Sky Sports earlier this week (3 October), Conte explained he had not played Doherty or Djed Spence at right wing-back because he was “not stupid” and “did not want to lose”.
Agbonlahor has claimed that the 53-year-old needs to change his attitude if he wants to be successful.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Those tactics of ‘I don’t want to lose’, change that to ‘I want to win’.
“You’ve got three centre-halves, you can play an attacking wing-back.
“That’s going to cost Conte winning a trophy if he’s got that attitude.”
Tottenham are up to third in the Premier League table after their win over Brighton at the Amex.
They are also well placed to qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages after earning four points from their opening three group games.
In other news, a defender wanted by Tottenham has agreed a deal after Fabio Paratici talks.