Spurs' Hojbjerg calls for Conte to be more 'precise'
Published
Days after his manager's now infamous rant following the team's late capitulation to relegation-threatened Southampton in a 3-3 draw, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has called for more clarity from Antonio Conte.
Following Saturday's match in which Spurs blew a late 3-1 lead, the Italian lambasted his squad and the club.
"Tottenham's story is this - 20 years there is this owner and they never won something," Conte said. "Why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here?" I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every moment. Until now, I try to hide the situation, but not now because, I repeat, I don't want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans."
Spurs currently sit fourth in the table on 49 points, two clear of Newcastle, who have two games in hand, for the final Champions League spot. The team crashed out of the FA Cup in the Round of 16 in a 1-0 loss to Championship side Sheffield United and also exited the Champions League in the Round of 16, losing 1-0 on aggregate to Milan.
Hojbjerg, 27, says his manager's comments came from the right place, but could have been clearer.
"He gave a very honest and very open press conference," the Denmark midfielder said. "It is because he is not satisfied. You don't do that if you've reached the quarter-final of the Champions League and if you're in the semi-final of the FA Cup. It comes from the fact that, unfortunately, we did not get the results we as a team and club wanted. We are still where we want and need to be in the Premier League. But yes, it's hard. I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing."
In his third season with the club following a move from Saints, Hojbjerg says Conte knows what to expect from him as a player.
"You do what you can to please him," Hojbjerg said on Conte. "What I do know about myself is that I am an honest player. I am a player who always gives 100 per cent of myself for the team. If that's how he sees it, then you have to be a little more precise in order for you as a player to take it to heart."
Spurs return to action following the international break on Apr. 3 with a visit to struggling Everton.