Antonio Conte shows clear statement of intent in Tottenham draw

Antonio Conte started the same 11 on just over two days rest, showing every intention of pushing players’ physical boundaries to execute his relentlessly high intensity brand of football at Tottenham. 

For the first time in over five years, a manager of Tottenham Hotspur fielded the same 11 midweek in Europe as he did on the weekend in the top flight. Conte has spoken repeatedly about the need for his team to “suffer together,” a factor that contributed to his decision to go with the same team on limited rest.

The astute Italian wanted see whether his preferred 11 are prepared to suffer together. The good news is that he liked what he saw. Spurs’ players scratched and clawed at Goodison, fully deserving of their first clean sheet in over two months. While quality was discernibly missing from yesterday’s performance, Conte’s men, in an inhospitable environment, fought for each other and the badge, even as fatigue clearly set in.

As Conte was being interviewed post-match (seen above), his exhausted players were cooling down, being taken through more drills and exercises by the gaffer’s staff. It was a clear and obvious show of intent from the staunch, impassioned Italian. The work will not cease until they can play a full 90 minutes of his intense brand of football without fading.

While it might seem like a baptism of fire, it is precisely those moments that can bring a collective closer together. Battle hardened teams are invariably more successful. Combine long-lasting endurance with resolute camaraderie and you have yourself two of four components of a championship-calibre side. Those two qualities are correlative. If you’ve been through battle with your teammate, you’re more likely to form an unbreakable bond.

Conte is relying on that cause-and-effect relationship, and will put his lads, both physically and mentally, through the ringer to yield the desired result.

The other two components, outstanding quality and tactical soundness, will take Conte much longer to achieve. But the fundamental building blocks have been put in place. At least now he knows his team can suffer together.

It’s a solid platform to work from as he, like his players, works tirelessly to return Spurs to Premier League contenders.