Medical staff told to ignore ‘bizarre’ Antonio Conte at Tottenham amid ‘bad habit’ – expert
Physios and medical personnel should not have to face media questions despite Tottenham boss Antonio Conte’s “bizarre” request.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Conte suggested that English football has a “bad habit” of only making the manager of a football club face questions from the media.
Last month (17 January) the Italian told reporters: “there is only the coach to speak and to explain. I have never seen the medical department come here to explain why this player is having difficulty to recover.”
Conte’s comments come from his time in Italy, where he claims before every game there is a person from the club who has to go before the media and answer every question.
Dinnery labelled Conte’s request “bizarre” and suggested that medical staff should keep their questioning internal to the club.
“It’s certainly not the first bizarre comment we’ve ever heard from Antonio Conte,” Dinnery told Football Insider.
“It’s perhaps a sign that he is feeling the pressure this season and he couldn’t hold his frustration back.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a season for Conte.
“There are many clubs in the Premier League that hold internal questioning of medical departments and staff, where they provide updates on progress, insight, results and timelines.
“But to send medical personnel to face media is a bizarre request and ultimately clubs wouldn’t like all that information being spread.“
In other news, an expert defends ‘outstanding’ Heung-Min Son amid fresh Tottenham criticism