Antonio Conte said the decision to disallow Harry Kane’s goal in Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea was “incredible” but reiterated there is significant gap between the teams.
Kane thought he had given Spurs the lead in the first half at Stamford Bridge but his close-range finish was ruled out for his push on Thiago Silva in the build-up.
While there was contact, the Brazilian appeared to go down easily and Spurs’ bench was incensed by the decision, with Conte remonstrating with referee Paul Tierney and the fourth official.
Second-half goals from Hakim Ziyech and Silva condemned Spurs to a third defeat by Chelsea this month and ended Conte’s nine-game unbeaten start in the League.
“For sure today was difficult – for injuries – to make the starting XI,” Conte said. “At the same time I’m proud of the performance of my players because we made a big effort.
“In the first half, the referee disallowed a goal and I was very clear with him because I think sometimes it’s best to tell the referee in a polite way that to see this type of goal disallowed in England was incredible.
“Maybe in Italy it’s 50-50 but in England it was incredible, this. Also it hurt me a lot the yellow card to [Japhet] Tanganga. It can seem a stupid thing. No. A yellow card then conditions the game from the start until the end.”
Oliver Skipp, Sergio Reguilon, Lucas Moura and Emerson Royal all dropped to the bench after picking up knocks in the dramatic win at Leicester, while Conte left Dele Alli, Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele out of the squad in Spurs’ final game before the close of the transfer window.
Asked about Dele and Lo Celso afterwards, the Italian suggested their futures were down to the club.
After his downbeat assessment of his squad after the 2-0 defeat here earlier this month, Conte struck a more positive note, although again pointed out the chasm between the clubs’ squads.
“Today, for the performance I have to be proud of my players because we made a big effort and tried to do everything to get a big result,” he said.
“Then I have to think that in 14 days we lost three times to Chelsea. It means there’s a different level between us and them.
“To lose three games in 14 days means they are much stronger than you, as a team and as a squad.
“You have to accept this but only after a performance like tonight. Because we tried everything to get a big result here. But sometimes it’s not enough, especially when you play against this type of team. This club are on another level compared to us.
“We’re improving. To play against Chelsea, despite this, in this moment, it’s very difficult to face this type of team. No squad, not team. Because they don’t have a 11 players, they have 22 or 23 players at an important level.”
