Antonio Conte has stressed the importance of focusing on your own team after a game rather than looking for an alibi following Jurgen Klopp's post-match comments after Tottenham's 1-1 draw against Liverpool. A crucial game for both, with the Reds in title contention and Spurs in a fight for a Champions League finish, the hosts needed a Luis Diaz equaliser 16 minutes from time to salvage a draw.
Making life incredibly difficult for Liverpool by remaining strong at the back and all across the pitch, Spurs, who took the lead through Son Heung-min's opener, did have a number of opportunities on the counter to net. Tottenham's approach didn't sit well with Klopp, however, and he let his feelings be known when speaking to the media after the final whistle.
He said: "I don’t like this kind of football. I think they’re world-class, and I think they should do more for the game. They play a world-class team, they sit back. They drew against us now, they won against [Manchester] City. So the game plan works for these games but they’re still fifth, so that’s how it is."
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Asked about Klopp's comments at his pre-match press conference when previewing Thursday's North London Derby showdown against Arsenal, Conte had his say.
"Anyone who knows me, knows very well I want to win every game. I try to transfer this thought to my players," he said. "For sure, when I stay in one team, in a club, my aspiration and desire is to fight to win the title.
"To win the league in England is not simple, it's easy. Guardiola said Liverpool won one league in 30 years, maybe. It shows it's not simple. Maybe sometimes it's easier to win Champions League or Europa League or other competitions than the league in England, where you have to face monsters.
"But after the game against Liverpool, the good answer I had was that my players were disappointed at the end of the game because they felt the possibility to win the game. We analysed the game the day after, and for sure if there was a team that deserved to win and created the chances to win, it was as Tottenham not Liverpool.
"In this game, I think Klopp understood he gained one point not lost two points. Jurgen is an intelligent person, he's very clever. He was a bit frustrated after the game.
"At the same time, for us, for a top coach and for every coach, it's important to learn that after the game it's important be focused on your team, not your opponent. To be focused on your opponent, it means you want to find an excuse or alibi because your job didn't work or something was wrong."
When asked by football.london if he was surprised by Klopp's comments, Conte said: "Honestly, for the coach it's not simple, it's not easy after the game. You have to try to keep a cool head. Sometimes it's not easy or simple.
"If you remember this season I was disappointed for a bad result and I was disappointed with myself, with my players. When we lost against Burnley and (laughs) if you remember I gave to myself the fault about the defeat. Sometimes we're a bit frustrated, especially when you arrive at the end of the season and you understand that a bad game and a bad result can change the target for you.
"But I repeat, I have great respect for Jurgen and I know that he respects me a lot. This is a good chance for him, for me and all the coaches to learn that during the game you never speak about your opponents. It's important to be focused on your team and the situations where you can maybe do better. You speak about your own problems."
With Liverpool in Premier League action on Tuesday evening against Aston Villa, Klopp was pressed on his post-match comments when speaking at his press conference on Monday afternoon. Admitting he was wrong to criticise Tottenham's approach, the German also issued his response to Pep Guardiola's claim that everybody wants Liverpool to win the Premier League title.
"I live in Liverpool, and a lot of people here want us to win the league, that’s true. But even here, it’s probably only 50%," he explained. "We’re all people, we’re involved in another fight, at least until yesterday, and yeah… Look, as managers, and I had this experience recently, after a game we are massively influenced by the situation.
"So I said after the game — would I say it again, no — 'Oh, (Tottenham) play how they play, and they’re still only fifth'. And it felt good in that moment! But anyway, wrong. It was just my feeling in that moment. I couldn’t respect Antonio more, what he’s doing, my god, how he organises teams.
"I don’t know exactly in which situation Pep was when he was asked, after getting knocked out of the Champions League, it’s obviously difficult enough to take, but of course, Liverpool make it to the final. And he’s right, on top of it!
"I was right with fifth place and Tottenham, and he was right that we have won the Premier League only once. I have no idea if the whole country is supporting us, it is not the feeling I get when we go to other places and play there, it is actually the opposite, but maybe he knows more about it than me."
