Tottenham shouldn’t have been surprised at how Antonio Conte’s time at the club ended as he “comes into conflict with everyone”, Christian Vieri says.
Conte joined Spurs in November 2021 after the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo and led the north London club to a top-four finish in the Premier League in his first season.
Despite finishing fourth again this season, performances under Conte have been wildly inconsistent, with Spurs having failed in the Champions League and FA Cup in recent weeks.
After an explosive press conference in which the Italian called his players “selfish”, he left the club on Sunday.
However, the breakup between Conte and the club was what former Juventus, Inter and Italy striker Vieri expected.
“Antonio is in conflict with everyone, this is his character,” he told Corriere della Sera.
“If you take him, then you can’t wait for someone who shuts up and everything is in order with him. He’s always on the edge, that’s his way of life; you may like it or not, you know who you are getting.
1.88 – Tottenham have averaged 1.88 points per game in the Premier League under Antonio Conte (56 D32 D9 L15), the second highest of any Spurs manager (minimum 38 games):
1.89 – Pochettino
1.88 – Conte
1.83 – Villas-Boas
1.74 – Redknapp
1.64 – MourinhoArivederzi. pic.twitter.com/hzUKWd63XR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 26, 2023
“Does he fight with everyone every two years? Yes. Does he always leave with problems? Yes.
“You know, he is demanding, serious, and hard to have in your club, he does not let you sleep well.
“It’s a choice. There are managers like Conte and Mourinho who shoot on goal around the clock, apply pressure and always demand the best.
“And there are those who are satisfied with everything, they stay there. Everyone trains and sees football in their own way, and this does not mean that this or that coach is right.
Former Conte assistant Christian Stellini will take over Tottenham alongside Ryan Mason until the end of the season.
