14 February 2024 , 14:50
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Antonio Conte has admitted he doesn't regret slamming his Tottenham players after what proved to be his final game in charge against Southampton last March.
The Italian was relieved of his duties by Daniel Levy eight days after Spurs drew 3-3 at St Mary's. They were cruising to a 3-1 victory on the south coast, before conceding two late goals to pick up just a point which prompted a furious reaction from Conte after the full-time whistle.
Conte claimed Tottenham's players didn't "want to play under pressure and under stress" and questioned their mentality during a fiery post-match press conference. He also suggested the club's long wait for a trophy could not only be Levy's fault as he lambasted his Spurs squad.
Almost a year on from his dismissal, Conte has since opened up on the outburst - but he doesn't take any of it back. "At that moment, my feeling was that," he told The Telegraph. "If I tell something, it means there is always something true. No, honestly, I don't regret anything about this. But I have good feelings about Tottenham. I keep this experience in my heart."
He added: "I am this way. I hate the lies. This can help me sometimes or sometimes can hurt me. But I prefer to stay in silence than to tell a good lie - also the relationship with my players.
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"During the season, it can happen that you need an honest conversation that can be positive or negative. I know very well, I was a player as well and some coaches told me good lies to keep me calm. I don’t want this type of situation.
"I know very well when you have these honest conversations with the players, in the first moment they can be a bit angry. Then, from my experience, the time helps the player to appreciate you. They were angry, but then they appreciate the honesty."
The former Chelsea manager also appeared to mock the club's ambitions, adding that he found it tough to celebrate finishing fourth at the end of his first six months with Spurs. He added: “For me, to celebrate fourth place and a place in the Champions League was really strange.
Antonio Conte left Tottenham last March (Getty Images)“At the end of the final game against Norwich, I called my staff and said ‘pay attention, don’t be used to celebrating a Champions League place’. I was very clear. I said we did the maximum. From ninth to fourth place, with all the problems we faced, was a miracle. But we didn’t celebrate like it was a miracle because I am used to winning.”
In February 2023, Conte underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder. He returned to work a week later before then taking a further four weeks off after Levy told him to go home and recover.
Conte said: "It was an important period with the Champions League, the FA Cup and the league,” said Conte. “I preferred to come back quickly, but then I understood it was really soon.
"It was Daniel Levy who pushed me to go home and recover again. After the AC Milan game, when we lost 1-0 in the San Siro, he told me to stay in Italy to recover well because he didn’t like the way I looked and Tottenham’s doctors didn’t want me to take the risk. The club supported me really well." Conte is still without a club since leaving Tottenham and is spending his time relaxing in Italy.
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