Predicting Conte's Tottenham Hotspur XI for Manchester City

Predicting Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur XI for Manchester City

By Aaron Coe | Feb 4, 2023

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (L) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (R) after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 7, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Spurs host Manchester City on Sunday evening at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and these are the XI players a likely Conteless team will field.

After having surgery earlier this week, it is unlikely Antonio Conte will be on the sideline for Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, although he may be at the game. Instead, Cristian Stellini will likely be in charge for a showdown with one of the best in the League, Manchester City. Although it is improbable that Conte is stalking the sideline on Sunday, it is even more far-fetched to think Stellini will deviate from the team and approach Conte wants to be employed. With Conte’s clear stamp on the team in mind, our projected XI looks familiar and may not be the one most fans want to see.

Predicting Spurs Forwards

Despite a new addition – Arnaut Danjuma – and two players returning from injury in Richarlison and Lucas Moura, the front three is probably the easiest area of the field to project – for now. With Danjuma still settling and Richarlison and Moura recovering from injury, seeing any of them start would be as surprising as seeing Conte on the sideline.

Left-forward – Heung-min Son

It has not been the season most envisioned for Son, with eight goals in all competitions and only four in the Premier League. Son did score two against Preston the last time out for Spurs and had an assist against Fulham when Tottenham was last in League. We all hope this is the start of one of Sonny’s purple patches.

Center-forward – Harry Kane

The next goal for Harry Kane will be a significant one after tying Jimmy Greaves for the club record 266 goals against Fulham. Further, if his next goal is in the Premier League, it will be the 200th League goal of his career, becoming the third player to reach the milestone, joining League legends Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney.

Right-forward – Dejan Kulusevski

Since the Swede returned to the Tottenham lineup, the team has looked more dangerous on the counter and more creative in the attack. Deki delivers that verve Spurs were missing when so many attackers were out injured, Kulusevski included.

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