Conte tipped to make significant change after ‘massive’ Tottenham development – pundit
Antonio Conte can “change people’s perceptions” of Tottenham by lifting the League Cup this season, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 52-year-old will be craving victory in the competition in order to establish a “winning mentality” at Spurs.
Tottenham face a two-legged semi-final clash with Chelsea, Conte’s former employers, next month after defeating West Ham 2-1 at home on Wednesday (22 December).
Liverpool will take on Arsenal in the other semi-final clash, ahead of a Wembley showpiece final in February.
Tottenham’s last trophy win came in the 2007-08 season when they lifted the League Cup after beating Chelsea 2-1.
Whelan suggested the competition could also provide Spurs with a route into European football.
“They’ve obviously had no silverware or real success for a number of years now,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“It will be massive to the Tottenham fans that they take every competition as seriously as possible.
“Conte will be wanting to win that trophy. Silverware can change people’s perceptions of a team, and he’s got to take it seriously. It would bring that winning mentality to the club, which we know he has as a manager.
“It’s another route back into Europe after they were kicked out of the Conference League. It’s a big opportunity for Tottenham to establish European football even before the season finishes – that would take some of the pressure off.
“Winning it would be unbelievable for the club and the players.”
Tottenham reached the League Cup final last season but were beaten 1-0 by Man City in April.
Spurs’ chances of silverware this season suffered a blow when they were knocked out of the Europa Conference League on Monday.
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