Pundit identifies ‘silver lining’ for Conte after Tottenham crisis update
Antonio Conte could use the Tottenham coronavirus crisis to his advantage by getting his tactical demands across, according to Kevin Phillips.
The former Sunderland striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 52-year-old manager will use this time to get his Spurs players into “the classroom”.
Tottenham were scheduled to take on Brighton on Sunday (12 December), but the club confirmed on Thursday (9 December) that the match will be rescheduled.
Football Insider revealed (9 December) that next Thursday’s fixture against Leicester is also in serious doubt after multiple first-team stars tested positive for Covid.
But Phillips insisted there could be a “silver lining” for Tottenham.
“There’s a positive and negative side to the situation – obviously Spurs won’t want to miss football matches,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“However, it will give Conte the opportunity to give the players plenty of his time on the training ground.
“Obviously there may be players missing from the sessions or the training ground might close down for a while, but Conte will have more time to get his points across ahead of this festive schedule.
“He can use that time to get the players in the classroom, getting his style, expectations, and philosophy across to them.
“Then when they return to playing, they’ll all be singing from the same hymn sheet. That could be a silver lining for Tottenham.”
Conte is unbeaten in league competition since being appointed as the new Tottenham boss last month.
Spurs sit fifth in the Premier League, just two points behind fourth-place West Ham.
In other news, a club insider claims one young star is set to leave Tottenham after a “telling” development.