Sat 02 April 2022, 12:15
Tottenham HotspurAntonio Conte described Newcastle United as a ‘different team’ as we prepare to return to Premier League action against the Toon at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (4.30pm).
Newcastle were 19th in the Premier League when we provided the opposition for the first match of a new era at St James’ Park following the takeover by an investment group led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and also comprising PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media in October. We won 3-2 that day, with Tanguy Ndombele, Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son on target.
They are now 14th, and before losing back-to-back games in the last week before the international break, Eddie Howe’s team were unbeaten in nine, winning six, with January signings, ex-Spur Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes and Matt Targett all making an impact.
“Yes, they are a totally different team,” said Antonio. “I know the coach very well; he is very good and is doing a great job. I know him from when he was at Bournemouth, he's young but his ideas about football are very clear.
“The transfer window went well for them, they signed important players. Now it’s a different team - you can see the table, and now they are out the relegation trouble, and we need to pay great attention.
“You know very well in England, there are no easy games. I ask our fans, like the last game, to help us from the start to the end, to back us and to create a great atmosphere around the game, because we need them to try and get three points.”
We return to action on a run of four wins in our last five in the Premier League, with the team remaining unchanged for the last three. Indeed, the back three have started the last eight on the trot.
Asked about the importance of a settled side, Antonio told us: “After four of five months, after that hard work, the team has more knowledge about my idea of football. We are showing to be a solid team, good with the ball, without the ball, we create many, many chances to score, we are scoring a lot of goals.
“I think that now, we find the right balance, and you know very well that I always say - to be an important team, you have to be stable. We are trying to do this, and I am seeing the improvement of my team. But for sure, we have to continue to work very hard, to continue to improve our level.”
