‘Disturbed’ Tottenham boss Conte banned from speaking to Italian media

Antonio Conte has confirmed that Tottenham have banned him from speaking to Italian media after a controversial interview emerged this week.

During the interview, the Italian manager suggested that his Spurs team was “weakened” during the January transfer window. 

Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur joined Tottenham on deadline day from Juventus. They also targeted Adama Traore but the Wolves winger ended up returning to Barcelona.

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Also on deadline day, Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele, Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso left Spurs.

Conte has now provided further context regarding his comments. He explained he feels that Tottenham are weaker “numerically” but “more complete” as a squad.

The ex-Chelsea boss also revealed that Spurs have now asked him to not speak with the Italian press moving forward:

“During the interview after the transfer window, after January ended, they asked me about the club, if I was happy, and I said the club did the best that the club could do,” Conte said (via Football London).

“We lost four players and I said [they are] important players for Tottenham, because these players that we sent away on loan, Tottenham paid a lot of money. When you spend a lot of money, it means we are talking about important players for the club.

“To pay attention to the future because we need players used to playing in this league and in my last interview, I said numerically, when you lost four players, important players for Tottenham, I repeat because they spent a lot of money, and you sign two players.

“If I had 20 players and now I have 18 players numerically, you can be a bit weaker…numerically. Then I said also with Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, as a squad we are more complete. I think I was very, very clear.

“I don’t understand why someone wants to try to create a problem with me. Not only me but also in the past. I read stories in the past about this club and it creates a problem with the coach and the chairman and the club. The chairman knows very well my thoughts. It’s not important for me to go to the media and speak to the media.

“If I have to speak with him, I go to speak with him. Sorry but I was a bit disturbed by this situation, especially because I had an interview with the Italian media. It means the club now doesn’t want me to speak to Italian media because the translation was not so clear with my thoughts.”