Rarely has a manager gone so berserk on his team, ownership and fans as Antonio Conte has in recent times at Tottenham. With results not going his way, the Italian manager has blamed the player’s attitude and the working of the top hierarchy for the mess that the club has found themselves in the last two decades.
“The problem is that for another time, we showed we are not a team. We are 11 players that go on to the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart,” Conte said in a press conference after a 3-3 draw against Southampton where they were leading the match 3-1 at one point.
He also said that the ownership had failed to take the club upward. Conte said, “They don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this: 20 years the owner is here, and they never won something but why?”
With comments like these, Conte is highly expected to be sacked even before his contract expires in the summer. However, who could be the man to replace Conte at the Tottenham Stadium?
Mauricio Pochettino
Seeing the current chaos at Tottenham, the best choice for the club would be to reappoint the man who took them to the Champions League final. During his five-year spell at the club, Pochettino helped the club finish four times in the top four. No Tottenham manager in the current era has performed better than the Argentine with the meagre budget at his disposal.
And Tottenham would love to reunite with their former manager. Pochettino is currently out of a job after leaving Paris Saint Germain. Currently, he is the best man to replace Conte for the job. The Argentine can perform better with the current crop of players and will bring expansive and attacking football back to the club.
Discussions are taking place again today at Tottenham to proceed with final steps of the decision on Antonio Conte 🚨⚪️ #THFC
Italian coach still waiting for the club to communicate the decision in the next 24/48 hours as reported yesterday. pic.twitter.com/v7IQ07Z7nB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 21, 2023
Thomas Tuchel
If Tottenham want a dream manager signing, then Thomas Tuchel would be the individual they should be targeting. The German manager who won the Champions League with Chelsea knows what it takes to get his team to perform in big matches. The German is not one of the best tactical managers and has been integral to several critical revolutions in football.
Like Pochettino, Tuchel is also out of a job after leaving Chelsea at the start of the 2022-23 season. And if Tottenham want a big-name manager that will make a statement to their rivals, then Tuchel should be the man for the job. However, if Tuchel does arrive, he will demand several new signings that will cost a substantial transfer fee which Daniel Levy might not want to sanction.
Thomas Frank
While Pochettino and Tuchel would be dream signings, Brentford’s Thomas Frank would be a more realistic option. The Dutchman has been the manager of ‘The Bees’ since 2018 and helped them achieve promotion to the Premier League in the 2020-21 season. In the first season, he helped Brentford finish 13th and has kept them in the top ten this season.
Frank has the experience of getting the best out of their players and operating on a meagre budget, something expected of a manager under Daniel Levy. The manager will also be easier to attract to the over against the likes of Tychel and Pochettino. The Dutchman is also expected to leave his job in the summer and Tottenham could be his likely destination should he choose to do so.
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Marco Silva
One place below Brentford on the Premier League table are Fulham, whose manager Marco Silva has also done an impressive job with The Cottagers. The Spaniard took over the club when they were in the Championship and helped them finish first to gain automatic promotion.
While Fulham have gained promotion many times in recent years, they have dropped straight back down, unable to cope with the standards of the Premier League. However, Silva has managed to create a tactical system that has suited the club massively. As a result, the club are currently ninth in the Premier League table and look well set to remain in the Premier League. And like Frank, Silva also has the experience of operating on a small budget and getting the best out of the available resources.
“Tottenham's story is this. 20 years there is the owner & they never won something. Why?” 😲
Antonio Conte goes down swinging in INCREDIBLE fashion 😳
🔗 https://t.co/cTG69ZLnok pic.twitter.com/yNJZirZIy6
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) March 18, 2023
Brendan Rodgers
In terms of Premier League experience, no manager can match the standards of Brendan Rodgers. Over the years, the Irish manager has cut his teeth in the Premier League. He first shot to fame when he helped Swansea get to the Premier League and helped them finish a respectable 11th.
Since then, he has helped Liverpool almost win the Premier League, won seven trophies with Celtic and is currently in his fourth year as Leicester City manager, where he has won three trophies. And if Tottenham want to have an experienced Premier League manager, the most realistic option is Rodgers.The Irishman also has the experience of operating on a tight budget and a small squad, qualities that Tottenham look for in a manager.
