Nev the only pundit not to back Conte as Manager of Year

Matt Stead

Gary Neville believes Mauricio Pochettino, not Antonio Conte, deserves to be named Premier League Manager of the Season.

Conte is on course to deliver Chelsea’s second top-flight title in three years in his first campaign at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues lead Tottenham by seven points with just seven games remaining, but Neville still believes that Spurs boss Pochettino deserves the acclaim.

Of the six pundits Sky Sports asked, the Manchester United legend was the only one to back someone other than Conte.

“I love Tottenham, they’re probably my favourite team in the league to watch,” Neville said.

“Pochettino has built a team, brought players through and the budget is nowhere near the other clubs. For me he’s doing an amazing job.”

Jamie Carragher explained his backing of Conte by praising his “outstanding job” in his first year.

“The signings have worked really well, he’s changed the system, brought someone like Victor Moses in who no one thought was good enough to play at that level and rejuvenated players like Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa,” he said.

Graeme Souness, Alan Smith and Niall Quinn also stated Conte’s case, as did Thierry Henry, who added: “As a coach, Conte has done exactly what you’re supposed to do. He arrived at Chelsea, assessed the situation and didn’t do what he wanted right from the start.

“He did what a good coach should do, in that, when it’s not working he changes it. And it worked because his system has helped every single player to do better.”