LONDON – Antonio Conte is set to return to the bench for tomorrow’s decisive Champions League showdown against AC Milan but persistent questions over the Italian’s future risk overshadowing the rest of the season.
Conte has missed the past four games as he recovered from gallbladder surgery in Italy with his assistant, Cristian Stellini, taking the reins.
During his time away, Tottenham have shown the frustrating inconsistency that has blighted the club since the Italian took the reins in November 2021.
A pair of 2-0 wins against West Ham and Chelsea suggested Spurs were on course to clinch a top-four place in the Premier League.
But that optimism faded after a dismal 1-0 loss at second-tier Sheffield United in the FA Cup fifth round and a drab league defeat by the same scoreline at Wolves on Saturday.
Conte walked back into Tottenham’s plush training complex this week to find a club still sitting in fourth place in the Premier League but at risk of an anti-climactic end to the season, being hunted down by a rejuvenated Liverpool.
The north Londoners are still without a major trophy since 2008 and even a manager of Conte’s pedigree has been unable to break that long drought.
The Italian has portrayed Tottenham’s problems as beyond his control, subtly hinting at frustration with the transfer policy of chairman Daniel Levy without explicitly condemning him in public.
But the 53-year-old is taking his share of the blame from fans, who have grown tired of his conservative tactics.
‘Massive boost’
Stellini’s record of three wins during his time in charge, prior to the FA Cup defeat, led to speculation over what the future would look like without Conte.
The former league winner at Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus has yet to sign an extension to a contract that expires at the end of this season and would surely be in demand from Serie A clubs if he became available.
Even if Tottenham finish in the top four to guarantee a return to the Champions League, it would not be a huge surprise if Conte and Levy parted ways.
Against that uncertain backdrop, Tottenham host seven-time European champions Milan in the second leg of their last-16 tie tomorrow, looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first meeting at the San Siro.
Spurs need Conte to lift their spirits ahead of a defining night, which could serve as a springboard for an uplifting end to the season.
Defender Ben Davies acknowledged the importance of having the manager back in charge.
“It’s been a while now, but we have a huge game on Wednesday and it is very important he is with us,” he said.
Conte has sometimes cut a disgruntled figure on the touchline this season, but Stellini echoed Davies’s hope that Tottenham can be revived by their manager’s return.
“Antonio will be a massive boost for us until the end of the season,” Stellini said.
“It is important that Antonio is back.” – AFP, March 7, 2023
