Ndombele ‘well aware’ as Paratici lays groundwork for January Tottenham transfer – pundit
Alex McLeish has claimed Antonio Conte has sent a warning shot to the Tottenham squad after singling out Tanguy Ndombele for criticism.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland boss admitted the new manager’s comments would ensure the rest of the Spurs players lift their game.
As quoted by the Guardian (19th November), Conte insisted Ndombele, 24, needs to show a greater work ethic and play for the team, rather than himself.
Football Insider has since revealed (25th November) the Italian boss has told Spurs to listen to offers for the £200,000-a-week France international in January.
McLeish claimed the Spurs squad will have been “excited” by Conte’s appointment.
However, he suggested the manager’s public dressing down of Ndombele will make sure standards do not slip.
“Every player will be well aware after Conte’s first few weeks in the job,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“He’s a very experienced coach and has had some great success. So the players themselves will be excited by that.
“They’ll also be willing to go that extra yard for him. If he’s citing somebody individually, then the rest of the players will say: ‘Oof, we cannot afford to drop the level with this guy.’
“You think of Pep Guardiola as well. Pep won’t have anybody on his team that doesn’t track back, doesn’t do the yards.
“It’s not any different for Conte. It wouldn’t be any different for me. We all want the players to work their socks off.”
Ndombele made his first start under Conte in Thursday’s embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Mura in the Europa Conference League.
The 2019 arrival has played 12 times across all competitions this term.
In other news, pundit slams Tottenham star who is “not fit to wear the shirt” again.