Staying put: Antonio Conte
(Picture: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I)Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has described reports linking with him with a return to Juventus as "disrespectful" and insists he is very happy at Spurs.
Conte has been mooted as a possible replacement for Massimiliano Allegri, who is under pressure after an underwhelming start to the season.
The Spurs head coach won three Serie A titles in four seasons as Juve boss, kickstarting their run of nine straight Scudettos which he ended with Inter Milan in 2020-21.
Conte is under contract with Spurs until the end of the season, with an option to extend, and says he has the whole campaign to determine his future.
"It's incredible that in this period and I think this is disrespectful for the Juventus coach and disrespectful for me [when] working for Tottenham," he said. "We've just started the season. Many times I spoke about this topic and I always said to you I'm happy and enjoying my time with Tottenham.
"Then we have the whole season to find the best solution for the club and for me. And for sure, I'm enjoying the time working for Tottenham, to work for Tottenham, with these players. I have a great relationship with the owner [chairman, Daniel Levy] and [managing director Fabio] Paratici. I don't see a problem for the future.
"Now it's important to be focussed. We signed a contract because both parties agree to sign this contract. I don't see a problem in this moment. And I don't want in the future to listen to someone speak about this because it's disrespectful to the other coach and to me."
Conte's side face rivals Arsenal in Saturday's north London derby, aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign and leapfrog their neighbours to the top of the League table.
Spurs are expected to be without Dejan Kulusevski with a hamstring problem and Conte has not ruled out playing Yves Bissouma as an extra midfielder, which was effective in the final 25 minutes of the 6-2 win over Leicester last time out.
"For sure it could be a good option because we have midfielders who are good also to play in a three," Conte said, when asked about a possible switch to 3-5-2.
"Bissouma when he came in against Leicester played well and he was really good integrating with Pierre [Hojbjerg] and Rodrigo Bentancur.
"This could be an option not only for tomorrow but for the future if we need to rest players, especially when you have this type of situation as happened when Kulusevski has this injury. It could be an option."
