Jamie Carragher believes Antonio Conte’s struggles to compete in the Champions League could derail Tottenham’s Premier League campaign.
Despite Conte’s track-record in domestic competition, the former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan coach is yet to convince on the continental stage.
The title-winning campaign at Stamford Bridge came during a season in Chelsea sat out of European football following the capitulation under Jose Mourinho, with Conte only having won 12 of his 54 games in Europe’s elite club competition.
Only once have a side under his management won a knock-out game, when his Juventus team beat Celtic back in 2013.
While Spurs have significantly strengthened this summer through the signings of Fraser Forster, Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence, Carragher has suggested the dual commitments could have an impact on the club’s domestic form.
Speaking at Sky Sports’ The Overlap in partnership with Sky Bet, Carragher said: “I’m a massive fan of Antonio Conte, and I think it’s brilliant to have him in the Premier League.
“One thing I would say could stop Tottenham [from doing well] is if they do okay in Europe, because if you look at Conte’s record even when he was at Chelsea, when he had no Europe and he’s got them [the players] for the full week training and the way he trains, you know all the tough training, but I think his record if there’s a lot of games coming in Europe there’s a lot more difficulty.”
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