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Tag: Tottenham

  • Why we lost to Chelsea in League Cup – Lloris

    Why we lost to Chelsea in League Cup – Lloris

    Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris admits they lacked fight for their Carabao Cup semifinal first-leg defeat at Chelsea.

    Spurs will need to overturn a 2-0 deficit in next Wednesday’s second leg at home after twice conceding from mistakes in the opening 35 minutes.

    “The way we started the game allowed the opponent to believe and to put us in trouble,” Lloris said. “The first half was the image of the lack of aggressiveness but in the second half we showed a good face – a lot of commitment from all the players. We took more risks, we created some good actions and at the end, it’s 2-0 down and there’s still one game to play.

    “We have to believe because in football anything can happen. With energy, with belief, with the help of our crowd, hopefully we’re going to deliver a great night.

    “After that game, there were some disappointments and also some regrets. The way we started the game is a bit frustrating. Because you are playing a semi-final. At least if you cannot play good football, you have to be ready to fight, compete and be more aggressive than the opponent.”

    Reflecting on two sloppy goals, Lloris added: “You know when there’s a lack of aggressiveness on the pitch, at some moment in the game you’re going to pay for it. Unfortunately it cost us the two goals.

    “We cannot forget that in front of us is one of the greatest teams in Europe. They won the Champions League last season and they’re much in advance of us in terms of process. If we want to grow as a team, we need to learn from that type of performance.

    “There was something in the balance – you play a semi-final, there was expectation and unfortunately the first half has to be analysed by ourselves.”

    Lloris added: “We know when you play two legs, the most important thing is that at the end of the first leg there is still a chance to go through.

    “We didn’t concede the third goal, unfortunately we could not score that goal which would allow us to believe even more. We know in football you can change a result very quickly with good energy, a bit of luck, good discipline. We have time, we have one week.

    “There is still an FA Cup game [against Morecambe] this weekend but it’s not over. This is the message. We will need our fans behind us and we’ll have to play an amazing game to turn qualification on our side.”

  • Conte stunned in first return to Stamford Bridge against Chelsea

    Conte stunned in first return to Stamford Bridge against Chelsea

    Chelsea put one foot in the EFL Cup final on Wednesday, thanks to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Tottenham.

    It was a semi-final first leg match which ended as a chastening return to Stamford Bridge for Antonio Conte.

    Thomas Tuchel, seemingly eager to put recent indiscretions to one side after an apology, reinstated Romelu Lukaku to his starting XI.

    But Chelsea’s victory arguably said more about Spurs’ defence than the hosts’ attack.

    The Blues were ahead inside five minutes as Kai Havertz punished a Japhet Tanganga error at the back, and a comical Ben Davies own goal had Chelsea cruising at the interval.

    Spurs improved somewhat in the second 45 minutes but were fortunate not to concede more goals.

    This was with Timo Werner spurning a couple of excellent opportunities, perhaps giving Conte’s men a lifeline for the return leg.

    Lukaku should have made a swift impact when released into the penalty box in the first minute, only to bizarrely opt for a cut-back that went to no one.

    Spurs gifted them another chance soon after, though, and Chelsea took it.

    Marcos Alonso cut out Tanganga’s dreadful pass and fed Havertz, who found the net in spite of Davinson Sanchez’s best efforts.

    The dominant home side made it 2-0 just past the half-hour mark, with Tanganga’s unchallenged headed clearance bouncing back off Davies and going in.

    Spurs, who introduced Tanguy Ndombele at half-time, were brighter early in the second period, with Harry Kane testing Kepa Arrizabalaga via a 20-yard free-kick.

    Still, the best chances went the way of Chelsea and Werner, who first shot agonisingly wide and then saw Hugo Lloris just about reach his lobbed effort after an exquisite pass from Hakim Ziyech.

    A late Ndombele effort from Bryan Gil’s pull-back was then well saved by Kepa as the Blues kept their clean sheet intact.

  • I have a lot of affection for Lukaku – Conte

    I have a lot of affection for Lukaku – Conte

    Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says he retains his admiration for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.

    Lukaku has infuriated Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel and the Blues support after a disparaging interview on Italian television this week.

    Asked about his former Inter Milan striker, Conte said: “I have a lot of affection for him, but he is a Chelsea player.”

    The Spurs manager also said: “There will be arrivals this winter.

    “When I signed, I was promised a meeting to talk about possible reinforcements.”

  • Tottenham boost top-four hopes after Palace win

    Tottenham boost top-four hopes after Palace win

    Tottenham scored twice in two first-half minutes to set up a victory over Crystal Palace and keep up the pressure on the Premier League top four.

    Harry Kane opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games, before Lucas Moura doubled their lead with a powerful header from close range.

    Palace, who had asked the Premier League to postpone the game because of a Covid-19 outbreak, which included a positive test for manager Patrick Vieira, never got going in north London.

    With Vieira self-isolating, assistant manager Osian Roberts took charge of the team, which had to play for nearly an hour with 10 men.

    Their talisman Wilfried Zaha felt aggrieved about his sending off for two bookable offences in the first half, before Son Heung-min sealed the win with a third for Tottenham after the break.

    Spurs are unbeaten in six league games under Antonio Conte and are six points behind fourth-place Arsenal with three games in hand, while Palace are 12th in the table.

  • Kane shows me his commitment every day – Conte

    Kane shows me his commitment every day – Conte

    Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is convinced of the commitment of Harry Kane.

    While there exists speculation that Kane will again seek to leave Spurs next summer after missing a move to Manchester City this year, Conte is convinced his star striker is happy where he is.

    The Italian said, “Harry showed me great availability and showed me (that he is) totally involved in the Tottenham project.

    “I see him every day and I see that he is happy. He leads on the training ground, he leads in the locker room and he leads during training sessions in a fantastic way.

    “I am happy with what I see every day.”

  • I pity Antonio Conte at Tottenham – Roy Keane

    I pity Antonio Conte at Tottenham – Roy Keane

    Manchester United legend, Roy Keane, has expressed his sympathy for Tottenham boss, Antonio Conte and believes the Italian faces an unenviable task in his attempt to make Spurs a winning team.

    Having successfully managed Chelsea and Inter Milan, Conte joined Tottenham at the start of November.

    The former Juventus boss has made a positive early impression at north London with Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool further evidence of the impact at the club.

    Keane is a huge admirer of the Italian but believes the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager will struggle to repeat the successes he has enjoyed elsewhere.

    “Everyone likes Conte. Obviously, his CV is brilliant. Again the timing he’s gone in there, Spurs must be a hard job,” Keane told Skybet.

    A recent documentary shows the attitude of Tottenham players, their medical and backroom staff before a football match.

    Keane noted that there was no discipline among the players and staff, even the team’s captain Harry Kane, who tries to address the players before every game.

    The former Manchester United star expressed shock in terms of what was going on at the club.

    “The medical room, everybody on their phones. They showed a couple of players falling out. It might have been Alli and Dier but they were arguing like children,” he added.

    “There was no aggression. It wasn’t real. They were like actors, there was no emotion behind it.

    “Harry Kane was doing a talk before the game and I was like ‘Harry you need to liven up man’.”

  • Son shines as Tottenham hold Liverpool in EPL thriller

    Son shines as Tottenham hold Liverpool in EPL thriller

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claimed referee Paul Tierney has a “problem” with him after Tottenham’s Son Heung-min punished Alisson Becker’s blunder to rescue a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday.

    Klopp’s side recovered from Harry Kane’s early strike to move in front thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Andrew Robertson.

    But South Korea forward Son equalised after Alisson missed his attempt to cut out Harry Winks’ pass.

    Liverpool held on for a point despite having to play the final 13 minutes with 10 men following Robertson’s dismissal for an ugly hack on Emerson Royal.

    Klopp was booked after protesting over two key Tierney decisions, insisting Kane should have been sent off and Jota deserved a penalty.

    The German took aim at Tierney in a post-match blast, saying: “I have no idea what his problem is with me.

    “I was a bit more emotional in the game. I’d have preferred the right decisions on the pitch.

    “Kane was definitely a red card. For the penalty, the referee told me he thinks Jota stops on purpose. It is incredible.

    “He had the best spot on the pitch and doesn’t give it. You will have to ask him what his problem is with me.”

    For the first time in four years, Liverpool won’t be top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day.

    The Reds are three points behind leaders Manchester City, who thrashed Newcastle 4-0 earlier on Sunday.

    After winning their previous eight games in all competitions, Liverpool once again left London frustrated having lost at West Ham and drawn at Brentford this term.

    The pulsating encounter was a welcome antidote to the coronavirus mayhem which has engulfed the Premier League, with six games postponed this weekend.

    Amid calls for the Christmas programme to be postponed to stem the virus spread, Klopp said: “We play now on Wednesday, Sunday and Tuesday. That is impossible.

    “We do not have the players. We could maybe have another case or two. We have to think about it, we cannot just push it all through. If we don’t play any more and have a break I am fine.”

    Tottenham had been hit the hardest by Covid, with Liverpool’s visit their first game in a fortnight after matches against Rennes, Brighton and Leicester were postponed.

    Nine of Antonio Conte’s squad contracted the virus and some of them remain in isolation.

    Liverpool weren’t immune either and, just hours before kick-off, Thiago Alcantara tested positive, while Jordan Henderson was sidelined by a non-Covid illness.

    Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones remained absent having missed Thursday’s win against Newcastle after testing positive.

    Racing onto Tanguy Ndombele’s pin-point pass into the Liverpool area, Kane guided a clinical finish into the far corner in the 13th minute.

    It was only Kane’s second Premier League goal of a difficult season for the England captain.

  • Conte continues unbeaten league start as Tottenham coach

    Conte continues unbeaten league start as Tottenham coach

    Lucas Moura’s outstanding goal helped earn fast-improving Tottenham a third straight Premier League win under Antonio Conte and left Norwich anchored at the bottom of the table.

    The Brazil forward found the top corner from 25 yards after a move which saw him beat two Norwich players and play a one-two with Son Heung-min.

    Norwich should already have taken the lead but Teemu Pukki fired straight at Hugo Lloris before Moura scored his first Premier League goal since February.

    Davinson Sanchez doubled the lead when the Colombian defender lashed home after Norwich failed to deal with a corner before Son made it 3-0 with a neat finish.

    At 1-0 Harry Kane missed a chance to score his first top-flight goal under Conte when he spotted Tim Krul off his line, but the England captain’s lob over the keeper fell wide of the target.

    The Canaries are three points from safety after their first defeat under Dean Smith.

    They missed a golden chance to equalise when 20-year-old Republic of Ireland forward Adam Idah fired wide from close range before Sanchez had made it 2-0.

  • I can’t afford to start games without Kane – Conte

    I can’t afford to start games without Kane – Conte

    Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says he won’t consider managing Harry Kane’s games through the Christmas programme.

    Kane, 28, has only scored ONE Premier League goal in 12 matches this season.

    But asked if Kane needed a rest over the festive period, Conte replied: “To start a game without Harry now is a bit difficult for me.

    “We’re talking about an important player for us, an important player for all.

    “I hope to improve the situation, to improve the confidence of all players and to see that maybe without Harry we can cover the situation.

    “Not in the same way but in a way that can be good to get three points. Now in this moment, honestly, I don’t see this team starting without Harry.”

    Conte expects him to find his scoring boots soon and bag plenty of goals before Santa arrives.

    The Italian, 52, said: “I’m sure Harry is going to score many goals.

    “I’m sure he’s going to have a good performance in the same way he had against Brentford on Thursday, but against every team we play.

    “I’m very pleased for the way that he’s playing. I know the striker wants to score but we want to give him many chances to score. We’re on the right path to do this type of situation.”

  • Spurs beat Brentford as Conte unbeaten league start continues

    Spurs beat Brentford as Conte unbeaten league start continues

    Antonio Conte’s unbeaten league start as Tottenham boss continued as they kept pace with the top four with a comfortable win over a lacklustre Brentford.

    A 12th-minute own goal from right wing-back Sergi Canos gave them the lead, before Son Heung-min finished off a scintillating counter-attack in the second half.

    The opener came from a Son dinked cross after a short corner, with Pontus Jansson’s clearing header ricocheting off Ben Davies and onto Canos before flying into the roof of the net.

    Spurs pressed for more goals, with Son denied from range in the first half, while Harry Kane saw a one-on-one effort well saved by Alvaro Fernandez after the break.

    Son got the goal that his performance, and Spurs’ display, deserved when he latched onto Sergio Reguilon’s cross to tap home from six yards.

    It was a limp display from Brentford, with their only shot on target in the whole game a tame left-footed effort from Ivan Toney.

    Tottenham climb to sixth – two points behind West Ham in fourth – while Brentford slip to 12th.