Antonio Conte undefeated at Tottenham when midfielder starts

Antonio Conte has yet to taste a Premier League defeat when Oliver Skipp is included in his starting 11, a record that highlights the Englishman’s importance to Tottenham. 

Conte has suffered three league defeats in a row, all of which without his 21-year-old live wire. It’s no coincidence that Tottenham have struggled to cope without arguably their most important player of the season.

Skipp hasn’t started since Spurs’ thrilling 3-2 comeback win at King Power Stadium on Jan. 19. In that match, Conte decided for the first time to start all three — prior to Rodigro Bentancur’s arrival — central midfielders.

Tottenham under Conte have a bulletproof record of five wins and a draw when Skipp starts. Sixteen of 18 possible points is an excellent return, but more than that, it identifies how instrumental Skipp is to Tottenham’s success.

In contrast, Spurs have won one, drawn twice and lost three times when Skipp isn’t in the starting team. They’ve amassed only five points out of a possible 18 with Skipp on the sidelines. He’s also one of three players whose presence as a collective is a key component of Conte’s early success at the north London club.

Skipp’s importance to Tottenham’s success pre-dates Conte’s arrival

Tottenham enjoyed success when Skipp started even before Conte’s arrival. Nuno Espirito Santo was the first to provide Skipp a regular place in Tottenham’s first 11. The Portuguese manager started the young Englishman in Tottenham’s first four top flight matches of the season, three of which ended in victory.

The fourth, a 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace, was more down to collection of other issues, including injuries and Japhet Tanganga’s sending off, than Skipp’s performance.

Spurs have lost eight of 22 matches in the current campaign, only three of which coming with Skipp in the starting 11. Tottenham have earned a clean sheet in eight of Skipp’s 14 starts. Fittingly and unsurprisingly, Spurs, under both Conte and Nuno, are still yet to obtain a clean sheet when Skipp doesn’t start.

Conte recently spoke publicly, praising Skipp’s influence and importance to his side. The quicker Skipp returns to the first 11 the increased likelihood of Conte’s side making a concerted push for the top four.

I’m sure very few — if any — pundits and supporters believed prior to the season that Tottenham’s success would be contingent on having their 21-year-old, who’s in the midst of his first season as a starter, garrison the centre of the park.