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Antonio Conte tells boos boys to be realistic as Tottenham fans vent fury after Villa loss

Antonio Conte tells boos boys to be realistic as Tottenham fans vent their fury after a loss to Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.

Conte spoke after the game, saying Tottenham can’t live up to “crazy” expectations if they don’t spend like their Premier League rivals.

Spurs’ 2-0 home defeat against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa means Conte’s side are 5th with with 30 points from 17 games played. Villa are 12th with 21 points from 17 games played.

An error by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in his first game back since the World Cup saw Emiliano Buendia get on the scoresheet, coming before Douglas Luiz added Villa’ second, making it back-to-back away wins under the new boss.

Conte claimed the club must sign two players worth up to £70million every season if they want to become title contenders.

He said: “I continue to repeat that last season we made a miracle.

“It happened, why? Because we played only one competition and we played with 12 or 13 players that didn’t have injuries in the last 15 games.

“We did a miracle, but I knew what the situation was and then I was very clear with the club (over what was needed) to become title contenders.

“I remember very well in the summer people talked about Tottenham as title contenders but it was a bit crazy to see this.

“To become title contenders, to become a team ready to fight to win something, you need to have a solid foundation, which means to have 14 or 15 strong players, with quality, and the other young players to develop.

“Every season, you can add two players – but two players priced £50m, £60m, £70m.

“In this way, it means you are signing important players who can improve the quality and the level of your team. But this is a process, guys.”

A number of Tottenham supporters urged for chairman Daniel Levy to “get out of our club” come the full time whistle.

Conte has told his players that they are at risk of bottling their top-four mission, however admits that is slipping out of their grasp.

He added: “I want to be honest, I want to be very clear. I have said this to the club, I have said my opinions. The fans deserve the best.

“Maybe to stay in fifth is the best. Maybe sixth, seventh, fifth or fourth is the best.

“Now we have to start to fight strong, because the situation in this league you can slip quickly. I spoke also with my players.

“You have to pay attention to fight because from start to the end the road is not long. You can slip quickly if you are not prepared and not humble to understand the situation very well.

“If you ask me if I’m scared, I’m not scared. I believe in my work, I believe in these players, but don’t ask me for things I cannot promise you.

“This is only to create an illusion and create dreams in a moment that you have to be realistic. If you are realistic, you know the situation and you face the moment in the right way.

“People think you arrive and you win. This can happen for a team that are used to winning in the past.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery told Sky Sports: “We are so happy. I think we competed very well.

“We were speaking after the first half, we were struggling a little bit defensively but they didn’t create chances and rarely good chances. We had only one, Watkins’ action in the first 15 minutes.

“But in the second half we kept with our plan, and we scored one goal and that gave us confidence to keep moving ahead in our mentality, to our defence, and when we have option to have ball possession and then attack.

“To score the second goal was amazing because in that moment we were thinking the match and three points was for us.

“We have to build a team thinking we can control the match, sometimes with ball and sometimes without the ball. Today we needed defensively to be strong, together and try to arrive in some moments.

“It’s normal they had some chances – not a lot – but we worked the whole week [for what] we can expect [from] the match today. The goalkeeper as well, after this clean sheet and with his performance, which helps us to believe in our goalkeepers, not only in Martinez, as well with Robby. I think today is OK to add the confidence in the team.”

Player ratings (via Sky Sports)

Tottenham: Lloris (4), Lenglet (6), Romero (6), Davies (6), Doherty (6), Bissouma (6), Hojbjerg (6), Perisic (7), Gil (6), Son (5), Kane (5).

Subs: Sessegnon (6), Sarr (6), Emerson Royal (6), Skipp (n/a), Spence (n/a)

Aston Villa: Olsen (7), Young (7), Konsa (7), Mings (7), Digne (7), Douglas Luiz (8), Kamara (8), McGinn (8), Bailey (7), Buendia (8), Watkins (8).

Subs: Cash (6), Coutinho (6), Chambers (6), Ings (6), Bednarek (6).

Man of the match: Douglas Luiz

This is what Twitter users had to say as Antonio Conte tells boos boys to be realistic as Tottenham fans vent fury after the Villa loss…

@george13070029: Conte is spot on , a conte team is built on a strong defence and I don’t think he has been given the funds to sort that out , cause spurs defence is terrible

@PJJacko: He’s right in what he is saying but I don’t think the words help the players. The club right now is a confused mess and no one seems to know what we should expect. Failure is probably the most obvious expectation 😂

@Malathronas: I’m sick and tired of his defeatism, his tactics and his mind games about whether he’ll stay or not. How do you expect the players to perform if they keep hearing they’re not up to scratch and that he might walk anytime?

@KaseyP95: We do have realistic expectations… but I think beating Villa at home is a realistic expectation even given our current squad

@RichStephens3: Never thought they would be title contenders in the 22/23 season ! But playing better football yes , playing with purpose and pride yes .. not this …

@joshiedwards10: It’s all great in saying this but we were a step in front of arsenal last season, but somehow they are top of the league this season clear by 7 points! No excuse as to why we’re not there and about! I don’t buy it!

@Jossys_Giants86: We’re not title contenders. We’ve not been since the 80’s, even under Poch but we as fans need to believe we’re contending for silverware. Under ENIC this will never happen because they care more for the money that lines their pockets. DIFFERENT MANAGER SAME OWNERS, SAME SHIT

@rweb88:
Sick of his faux-philosophy.
Success in his job is difficult however the basics are deceptively simple
Improve your players
Motivate the squad and the fan base
Create a tactical system that suits the players you have
Win football matches
So far he’s failing all 4

@washingtonukfan: Was at the game . Some of the worst football I’ve seen. All we do is pass it sideways and back . That’s on the Gaffa negative tactics .

@Dazacoys: He’s not wrong all enic want is spurs in Europa or if lucky champion league then money money for concerts& boxing

@WaspyWhyman: Do not give this man any more money to waste! Jose,Nunes & Conte, all the same, all been found out in the premiership. Get a young manager on the cheap, like all the ones we missed, wasting £ms the above! Levy your a disgrace, out of touch, to busy building your empire!

@Yidkid69: Hasn’t he changed his tune, he’s realised he won’t get what he wants with Enic & he’s on he’s way out the door, you can see it already

@shaunle61197008: No ones ever called us title contenders have they

@charlieskill: I think it means he wants better players the not being backed by the board and buying average players- the best we can hope for us to get one of these positions in the league. Sounds worrying to me!

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