Under fire Antonio Conte launched into an astonishing rant after Tottenham surrendered two points away to Southampton.
Spurs were 3-1 up and cruising after goals from Pedro Porro, Harry Kane and Ivan Perisic had them in a commanding position despite Che Adams’ strike just after the break. However, former Arsenal star Theo Walcott halved the deficit before James Ward-Prowse squared things up deep into injury time.
And Conte, who is out of contract at the end of the season but not guaranteed to last until then, savaged the Tottenham “story” as he explained why the club never won anything and that changing the manager wouldn't change the situation, accusing his players of lacking fight and playing for themselves. "Being a team is the most important thing," Conte said. "To understand that we play for the badge. We have to play to make our fans proud of us. We have to play to show desire.
“The fire in your eyes to win. If you have this, for sure, you don't go out in FA Cup. And today you win.
"Here we're used to it for a long time. The club has the responsibility for the transfer market, every coach that stayed here has the responsibility.
"And the players? The players? Where are the players? In my experience, I can tell you that if you want to be competitive, if you want to fight, you have to improve this aspect. And this aspect, I can tell you, in this moment is really, really low. And I see only 11 players that play for themselves.
They are used to it here They don't play for something important. They don't want to play under pressure, they don't want to play under stress.
"I said that I wanted to see the fire, not that I have seen. It is different.
"I said that I want to see the fire in their eyes, in their hearts. I want to see the right spirit. Not only in the training session, on the pitch. Because here you have to make the difference.
"There are 10 games to go and some people think we can fight. Fight for what with this spirit, this attitude, this commitment? For what? For seventh, eighth, 10th place? I am not used to this position. I’m really upset and everyone has to take their responsibility.
"Not only the club, the manager and the staff. The players have to be involved in this situation because it is time to change this situation if Tottenham want to change. If they want to continue in this way, they can change the manager, a lot of managers, but the situation cannot change. Believe me."
Anf the italian accused the media of making excuses for his men. He continued: "You are finding an alibi, another alibi," he said. "You try to find an excuse for the players. OK, continue to do this, to find an excuse for the players.
"You do only this. Excuses for the players. 'But the players, my future, we lost confidence, they lost spirit, they lost being a team'.
"Excuses. Excuses. Excuses! Try to protect them every time. Bah. Come on, come on, come on. We are professional. The club pay us a lot of money. The players receive money, I receive money, you understand?
"Not to find excuses or not show spirit or show a sense of belonging or don't show a sense of responsibility because we are showing this.
"For me this is unacceptable because for me this is the first time in my career to see a situation like this. Until now I wasn't able to change, not to change but compare to last season the situation went to become worse."
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