Antonio: “I was lucky to find this group of players”
Fri 20 May 2022, 17:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
Antonio Conte has paid tribute to the squad as we prepare for a crucial Premier League finale at Norwich City on Sunday (4pm).
We’ll step out at Carrow Road knowing a point will be good enough to secure fourth place and Champions League qualification.
Antonio joined us on 2 November. At the time, we were ninth in the Premier League. Unbeaten in his first nine league matches, we climbed up to fifth, but back-to-back losses against Chelsea, Southampton and Wolves knocked us back down to eighth in February. We recovered with a stunning win at City, but then lost to Burnley, and stayed eighth.
Since then, we’ve won nine out of 13, with three wins and a draw in our last four taking us back into fourth, two points ahead of Arsenal, who we beat in a crucial north London derby last week.
I’ve been impressed with the improvement of every single player, in many aspects, not only technical and tactical, but also the mentality
Speaking to Spurs TV after training on Friday, Antonio told us: “It’s a big achievement to be in this position and to play the last game of the season with the possibility of getting into the Champions League.
“It means that we did a really great job. But we have to finish this job. Now, everything is in our hands, and it would be a pity not to get that place in the Champions League.”
Asked what had impressed him most since his arrival, Antonio responded: “I’ve been impressed with the improvement of every single player, in many aspects, not only technical and tactical, but also the mentality.
“I always say, I was lucky to find this group of players, because from the first day they showed me great commitment and desire to improve and to go another step. When a manager finds this situation, he must be pleased. To see these great improvements is the greatest satisfaction for me.”
