Tottenham news: Former manager issues ‘game changing’ Ryan Sessegnon claim
Alex McLeish has insisted working under Antonio Conte at Tottenham could be a “gamechanger” for Ryan Sessegnon.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, hailed the Italian coach’s “brilliant” record of converting wingers into wing-backs.
Sessegnon has started Spurs’ last two Premier League games on the left-hand side of a back five.
The 21-year-old has struggled for regular game time this season due to fitness issues.
However, McLeish suggested Sessegnon could be the latest player transformed by Conte’s management.
“Conte’s had great success with the three-at-the-back system,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“You go back to days at Chelsea, he started off with a doing against Arsenal, their big rivals. Then he completely changed it and they went on to win the league.
“It was a phenomenal achievement and certainly to change it in those early days was a stroke of genius. He knows how to play that system inside out.
“Sessegnon coming in there, he’s almost a converted winger. We’ve seen a lot of this over the years, I think France started to do it before anyone else.
“They started converting wingers into attacking full-backs or attacking wing-backs. Conte does that absolutely brilliantly.
“This could be a real gamechanger for this young man.”
Sessegnon has now played 10 times since Conte’s arrival.
He has started five times in the Premier League under the Italian manager.
The England under-21 international spent last season on loan at Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.
He has made a total of 24 appearances for Spurs since his 2019 move from Fulham.
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