Antonio Conte explains sparing use of Spurs duo and admits nobody is undroppable

Conte was speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday evening's visit of bottom-club Leicester City, where he also gave his thoughts on the misfiring Heung-Min Son.

Advertisement

Whilst the Foxes are in dismal form having lost five on the spin, Spurs are also looking to bounce back following Tuesday's disappointing 2-0 defeat at Sporting Lisbon.

Spurs were hit with two sucker punches in added time and now sit in second place in the group, three points adrift of the Portuguese side.

Advertisement

Conte made one substitution in a game where Spurs needed fresher legs - particularly in the latter stages - with fans keen to see in the introduction of right-back Doherty and midfielder Bissouma.

The Italian tactician was quizzed on his sparing use of the duo this season and gave an honest account.

"I can explain because I like to be honest, not only with you but first of all my players," Conte told reporters.

Advertisement

Advertisement

"In this first part of seven games, don't forget we had players like Matthew [Doherty] that had a serious injury and I said in the past he is struggling a bit to come back as the player I knew last season.

Conte continued: "For sure now he is improving a lot and for now it is the international break, he will have two games with the national team and he will come back and I will have the possibility to have another player with rotation."

Doherty has only managed eight minutes of game time this season having been introduced as a substitute on the opening day of the season against Southampton and again last week in the 2-0 win over Marseille.

Summer signing Yves Bissouma is also struggling to find his feet under Conte this season having started just once this season. But the Italian claimed he reasoning for Bissouma's omission is purely tactical.

Advertisement

Conte said: "There are players like Richarlison, who went into the team quickly, Lenglet was the same, Perisic was the same. The only player that is struggling a bit with the tactical aspect is Bissouma, but also he is improving a lot in every aspect.

"I am sure when we start again and play 12 games, for sure he is another player I can count on but I try to take the best decision for the player because I want to protect the player.

"At the same time I want to protect the team and everybody. For sure we know very well when we start again to play 12 games in one month, you have to be ready. You have to be ready because I need all my players."

Advertisement

He added: "It doesn't matter if you spend money, you need to have players to go into our idea of football. There are players that do this quickly like Richarlison, Lenglet, like Perisic and then other players that need a bit of time.

"Also the midfielder is a specific role for us, with the ball and without the ball. It's not simple. I ask for some moments, some positions. They have to be a point of reference in every moment of the game.

"The midfielder for sure, to go into our idea of football is maybe the most difficult position, but we are talking about a player that has great skill, good running. With the ball he's really good, defensively he has to pay more attention. More attention because especially we only have two midfielders and then they have to be good with the ball and without the ball, but I'm really happy with his signing."

The former Juventus coach was asked about out-of-sorts forward Heung-Min Son who is without a goal in eight outings this season, amid suggestions that the 30-year-old forward could soon be taken out of the firing line.

Advertisement

"No players are undroppable," Conte added. This has to be clear. If I say this, it's only to help my players and to avoid injuries, to try to have players in a good performance.

You know you can play one game well, another so-so and another not. My job is to protect my players and find the right way to get a good result.