Antonio Conte has provided his thoughts on the performances of Tottenham Hotspur duo Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon in their match against Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday.
Perisic made his first start for Tottenham in the Premier League game vs Wolves and the Croat played a crucial role in setting up the winner, scored by Harry Kane.
That being said, the former Inter Milan man, like the majority of his teammates, was not at his best in the opening 45 minutes as the visitors dominated the flow of the clash.
Perisic turned things around after the break, as Tottenham raised the pressure and finally broke the deadlock. The Croatian met Son Heung-Min’s corner at the near post, and he flicked it perfectly towards the far post where Kane was waiting to nod the ball home.
Sessegnon was substituted in Perisic’s place in the 76th minute, and the Englishman brought great energy into the game for the hosts. The 22-year-old showcased great prowess in the attacking phase and also tracked the pacey Adama Traore the other way.
Conte has analysed how both wing-backs performed on the day and gave his honest assessment of the duo. The Italian boss revealed he had finally seen the Perisic he knew from their days together at Inter Milan in the second half.
As for Sessegnon, Conte was delighted with the impact he made off the bench, adding that playing with Perisic would help the former Fulham man to raise his game to another level this season.
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Speaking in the post-match presser to Football.London, Conte said: “It was the same for the rest of the team. He [Perisic] struggled in the first half, and with the rest of the team, he improved a lot. I have seen the Ivan Perisic I know from Inter. When we were together at Inter.
“For us, he is very important because we are talking about a player with great experience. A player that won a lot in his past, has played in an important team. He can bring experience. I was really pleased with the impact of Ryan Sessegnon.
“For Sess, who is playing well this season it is very very important to have a player in front of you like Ivan. In front of him, Sess has a great career, and I think Ivan was the same as the rest of the team. First half he struggled, second half he improved a lot.”
“Now I want to see him in the same way – in the first half the same as the second half like the rest of the team.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
The duo of Perisic and Sessegnon does provide a great balance between experience and young blood in Tottenham’s ranks. The left wing-back position looks to be set for the near future, with both of them battling it out for the starting spot.
Perisic’s return to form will undoubtedly come as a blessing to Spurs and Conte, as he was among the best players for the Nerazzurri under the Italian. Sessegnon, meanwhile, can take this opportunity to use the ex-Bayern Munich ace as his mentor to cement himself in Conte’s plans for the future.
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