21 March 2023 , 12:45
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has asked manager Antonio Conte to "elaborate" on his explosive post-match outburst, during which he labelled Tottenham 's players "selfish" and criticised owner Daniel Levy.
The Spurs boss slammed Hojbjerg and his team-mates after they squandered a 3-1 lead to draw with rock-bottom side Southampton on Saturday, sparking a 10-minute tirade which is sure to go down as one of the Premier League 's most infamous post-match rants. "Tottenham's story is this," Conte fumed in the St Mary's media room. "20 years there is the owner and they never won something. Why?"
With the Italian now expected to be sacked by Levy later this week, Hojbjerg has become the first player to respond. "We've all seen it," the 27-year-old told reporters in his native Denmark. "[It was a] very honest and very open press conference he gave.
"It is because he is not satisfied. You don't do that if you've reached the quarter-final of the Champions League and if you're in the semi-final of the FA Cup. It comes from the fact that, unfortunately, we did not get the results we as a team and club wanted. We are still where we want and need to be in the Premier League.
"But yes, it's hard, I should say. I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing.
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"The coach has not been satisfied, and that is what I will take with me. You do what you can to please him. What I do know about myself is that I am an honest player. I am a player who always gives 100 per cent of myself for the team."
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg wants Antonio Conte to "elaborate" on his furious rant (LISELOTTE SABROE/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)Asked if Conte was right to publicly air his grievances in such a furious manner, Hojbjerg replied: "Fortunately, I am not the one to judge it." The Denmark international went on to say: "If that's how he sees it, then you have to be a little more precise in order for you as a player to take it to heart."
Hojbjerg, who's in his third season at Tottenham and part of the team who crashed out of both the Champions League and FA Cup in March, added: "He didn't tell us what he wanted to say at the press conference. But it is clear that you work with each other every day, you want the best for each other and you want to be successful together. And sometimes the waves go high in football."
Antonio Conte is expected to be sacked by Tottenham following his post-match outburst (Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)Have your say! Who should Tottenham appoint to replace Conte? Let us know your pick in the comments section.
Spurs, who last won a trophy in 2008, don't play again until Monday, April 3 when they face an improved Everton side away from home. By then, a new manager could be in place, with former boss Mauricio Pochettino tipped to return.
Ex-Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason, who's currently part of Conte's backroom staff, could take charge on an interim basis as he did following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in April 2021. Meanwhile, German publication Bild report that the agents of Eintrahct Frankfurt gaffer Oliver Glasner have been contacted.