Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has slammed his “selfish players” and believes his side are “not a team” after they threw away a two-goal lead at bottom side Southampton.
Spurs led 3-1 at Saints with 16 minutes to go and looked on course to move third, but they conceded twice late on as James Ward-Prowse’s stoppage-time penalty rescued a 3-3 draw for the home side.
The result dents Tottenham’s top-four hopes with Conte’s side now just two points above fifth-placed Newcastle, who have two games in hand on them.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the 3-3 draw between Southampton and Tottenham in the Premier League
Their collapse at St Mary’s caps off a miserable March for Spurs who were dumped out of both the FA Cup and the Champions League earlier this month to leave them trophyless since 2008.
Conte told Sky Sports after the 3-3 draw: “The situation we live in the last month are not so good.
“Usually my team, they show great stability and not ups-and-downs, ups-and-downs, and instead, if I have to compare this season and the improvement we are doing this season compared to last season, I think instead of improving the situation we are losing the work that we did last season.
“I don’t speak about the tactical aspect, the technical aspect, I am talking about the spirit, the sense of responsibility about the heart that we have to put onto the pitch.
“I think instead of going and improving we are going [on] to lose this characteristic and, in my experience, if you don’t have this characteristic then it can happen that you can lose in the Championship to a half-team like Sheffield United because Sheffield United I remember they play with a half team that were young players, not the first team.
“Today against Southampton you are winning 3-1 and you feel the perception; my perception is that anything can happen in every moment. And to be scared, scared of what [might] happen.
“I think it is right also, there is a moment, that the coach is the first responsible, the club is the first responsible – the players, the players have to take the responsibility because what we are seeing in the last month I don’t like. I don’t like.
“And I’m not used to seeing this type of situation. I see a lot of selfish players and I don’t see a team.”
More to follow…
