Antonio Conte’s scathing critique of all that is inherently wrong with Tottenham still resonates as they return to Southampton with Ange Postecoglou fighting to salvage his second season.
‘You can change a lot of managers but the situation cannot change, believe me,’ was the parting shot from Conte, a blistering character assassination of players he accused of lacking any fire in their heart or their eyes after a 3-3 draw at St Mary’s, having led 3-1 with just over 10 minutes to play.
Spurs go back to that scene for the first time on a miserable run of one win in eight games, with Postecoglou turning his ire on the players.
Timo Werner’s performance at Rangers on Thursday was ‘unacceptable’ he said, the very same word used by Conte to kick-start the infamous nine-minute rant in March 2023.
Back then, Tottenham had thrown away a two-goal lead against a Saints team destined for relegation and the Italian said it was ‘unacceptable’ before branding them ‘selfish’ and accusing the media of providing them an alibi by constantly pinning the blame on chairman Daniel Levy.
‘They are used to it here,’ fumed Conte. ‘They don’t play for something important, don’t want to play under pressure, don’t want to play under stress. It is easy this way. Tottenham’s story is this.
Spurs return to Southampton on Sunday, less than two years after Antonio Conte’s infamous rant at St Mary’s
The explosive outburst ultimately marked the end of the Italian’s reign in north London
Ange Postecoglou’s side enter the clash with just one win in their last eight games in all competitions
‘Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only the club or every manager? I have seen the managers Tottenham had. You disrupt the future of the manager and protect the other situation.’
These explosive home truths were his final public words in the job. He flew back to Italy for the international break, was sacked before the next game and Spurs limped home in eighth. Club record goalscorer Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich a few months later, on the eve of Postecoglou’s reign.
Conte’s brutal judgment though still echoes around the club when times get tough.
His first season was strong. He had an impact, finished fourth but they regressed with a Champions League campaign to handle and personal stresses, including the death of his friend and fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone.
Conte needed time off to recover from gall bladder surgery and there was a feeling he was unhappy and wanted out, dragging down the mood, making those around him unhappy too, and that they would all be better off without him.
Postecoglou benefited from a post-Conte lifting of spirits. He brought a smile back to the place but, like his predecessor, appears to be hitting the point where the impressive progress of his early tenure fades.
The second season – in his case the season in which he says he always wins a trophy – is in danger of falling apart.
Southampton could prove the best of opponents in the circumstances. Rock bottom and deep in their own problems with only five points and manager Russell Martin, not unlike Postecoglou, accused of a stubborn refusal to adapt his style.
Timo Werner was singled out for criticism after the club were held to a draw by Rangers on Thursday
Like Conte, Postecoglou now finds himself in the midst of a dismal run of form following a promising start at the club
His side now find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table
Or they might be the worst. This is, on the face of it, a game Tottenham ought to win. And if they don’t, alarm will ripple through fans who hurled abuse at Postecoglou after losing at Bournemouth last week.
The Spurs boss hinted at what he suspected was a flaw in the mentality of his team after that defeat.
They started brightly only to yield, conceding the first time they were asked to defend, surrendering initiative to a decent counter-attacking side. He criticised their ‘conviction’ and ‘discipline’ in key moments.
The same pattern was back three days later against Chelsea: strong start, two up early doors and then another chastening defeat followed by vice-captain Cristian Romero pointing the finger at the board for failing to spend like their rivals, in an interview with Spanish media.
Conte’s notion that some things will never change appears relevant as ever.
Not that Postecoglou is prepared to entertain it. ‘I didn’t go into this job where I felt there was something institutionalised that would stop this club having success,’ said the Australian before the Chelsea game.
Tottenham, though, are in a delicate state. Searching for reason, stripped of key players, overwhelmed by demands of the European schedule on minds and bodies. The Thursday-Sunday cycle can be gruelling.
Especially upon young players new to the rigours, especially playing a high-octane brand of football and training daily with intensity.
Southampton is a winnable game on paper, with Russell Martin’s side facing serious problems of their own
Postecoglou’s issues are worsened by an ongoing injury crisis that has left several key players unavailable
Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur will play not part against Saints due to suspension
Injuries have stretched the squad so thinly they cannot rest them or rotate freely and Postecoglou’s public attack on Werner belies his frustration.
But Tottenham chose this route. They knew Europe was coming, they wanted a clearout and took a strategic decision to go into the season with a younger squad, signing players for the future who could be moulded by Postecoglou to the specifics of his style.
There is sense in the plan and it may still pay dividends, but they have only won one of the five games following Europa League ties and that was the first, when they thumped Manchester United 3-0 after Qarabag at home.
In the others, they have lost against Brighton, Crystal Palace and Ipswich and drawn with Fulham.
They will be expected to beat Southampton although neither Yves Bissouma nor Rodrigo Bentancur will be available in midfield as they serve bans, further weakening the team outplayed by Rangers.
Fluent and free-flowing Spurs has surfaced only in flashes since a 4-0 win at Manchester City, which was not three weeks ago and yet feels like a distant dream.
After St Mary’s, they face two tricky home games – Manchester United in a Carabao Cup quarter-final and Liverpool in the Premier League. Go to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day wallowing around in the bottom half having been dumped out of the first cup competition of the season and the natives will be restless.
It is a genuine test of Tottenham mentality. It is a test of Levy’s nerve. Has anything actually changed? Conte, as it goes, is currently plotting a title bid with Napoli.
