Football

Premier League teams’ performances: will Conte’s drills propel Tottenham into title contention?

Antonio Conte achieved his first goal last year, taking Tottenham to the Champions League. Now, however, the stormy coach has another goal ahead of him, to challenge for the title. Can Spurs finally reach the league throne for the first time in their history?

Published

2 years ago

2. 8. 2022

David Beňo

The management team

Antonio Conte is a born winner. He doesn’t last long anywhere, it’s usually the case that he comes in, makes a big storm, wins the title, has a falling out with the management or the players and leaves. Tottenham, meanwhile, have returned to the Champions League, and during the build-up pictures of Spurs players fainting after Conte’s drills have been flying around the internet. If they get used to the Italian coach’s demanding style, Kane and co could be very dangerous.

Goalkeeper

Hugo Lloris remains a certainty in goal as the 35-year-old goalkeeper enters his 11th season in a Tottenham jersey. He will be backed up by 34-year-old experienced goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who arrived as a free agent after eight years at Southampton.

The number three position will be filled by 23-year-old Brandon Austin, who spent last season on loan at Orlando City in the MLS.

Defense

Whether Conte has been at Juventus, Chelsea, the Italian national team or Inter, he has always relied on a formation with three defenders. And he has stuck to his philosophy at Tottenham.

Only Eric Dier is virtually assured of a place. At the end of last season, Ben Davies was always in the starting line-up in a three-man defence, but he played only 39 minutes in preparation, otherwise he sat on the bench.

So Conte has played a defensive trio of Eric Dier – Christian Romero – Davinson Sanchez and it seems likely that he will run out in this line-up in the first leg against Southampton.

However, Frenchman Clement Lenglet has arrived from Barcelona and would surely also like to have a say in the defensive line-up. However, he joined the team late and will probably start the season on the bench.

Backup

Sergio Reguilon was a certainty on the left flank under Mourinho and initially under Conte. The Real Madrid graduate is originally a left-back, but he can play the left half-back position reliably. It’s just that he is often injured and there are even reports that Spurs would not resist selling him, plus he hasn’t featured in a single friendly match due to injury.

So Ryan Sessegnon, who took over the position at the end of the season, played at left halfback in preparation. However, in the dress rehearsal against AS Roma, the new signing from Inter, Ivan Perisic, came in.

Conte has three options at right halfback. One is Matt Doherty, who also started in the dress rehearsal, the other is Emerson Royal, who played most of last season. Against Sevilla, Lucas Moura, who was withdrawn due to the high competition in the attack, started here again.

Conte most often relies on a 3-4-3 formation, sometimes 3-5-2, but it is more likely to be the first version. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who only missed two games last season, is almost certain to be in the middle of the park. Alongside him, Yves Bissouma, a summer signing from Brighton, is in the running for a place in the starting line-up.

Conte can still use Rodrigo Bentancur, Oliver Skipp or Harry Winks here.

Attack

Tottenham’s offensive trio has a clear composition. Heung-Min Son, together with Salah the top scorer of last year’s Premier League, will operate on the left wing. At the top, Spurs rely on captain Harry Kane, author of 17 goals last year.

The pair have long relied on themselves, but the winter has seen a much-needed boost. Dejan Kulusevski arrived from Juventus and immediately slotted in on the right wing of Conte’s line-up. In 18 Premier League games, he racked up a 5+8 record, extending Spurs’ attacking threat that often relied on the Son-Kane duo alone.

On top of that, Tottenham brought in a capable substitute in the form of Richarlison. The Everton star racked up 11 goals and 5 assists last season and will certainly come in handy in a busy Premier League and Champions League schedule.