Hoddle claims Spurs defender ‘looks a different player’ in Conte’s system

Glenn Hoddle has praised Antonio Conte for getting a tune out of Eric Dier, admitting the centre-back looks like a player transformed under the Italian.

Dier has divided opinion among Spurs fans for years, with the centre-back attracting plenty of criticism for some of his unforced errors in the second half of last season.

However, the 27-year-old has been a fixture in the Tottenham backline this season, both under Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte.

In fact, the England international was one of the few players in the squad who produced consistent performances under Nuno despite the team’s defensive struggles.

However, since Conte’s arrival, the former Sporting Lisbon man has barely put a foot wrong in the central sweeper role of a back three.

The former Inter Milan boss has even said the Tottenham star has the ability to become one of the best central defenders in world football.

Hoddle has now admitted that Dier looks a completely different player compared to the past couple of seasons.

The legendary Spurs midfielder told Premierleague.com: “Losing a couple of games (to Covid) has allowed him, so I hear, to get the fitness he wanted in them.

“He couldn’t with all the fixtures. They look more solid.

“He’s getting a tune out of Dier. Dier in a back three looks like a different player than he has done in the last few seasons.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Dier has always had all the necessary attributes to become a top centre-half. The one area of his game that has improved this season is his concentration levels, which is only natural given that the centre-back was getting readjusted to playing in central defence over the last 18 months or so.

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