Heung-min Son has admitted that Antonio Conte’s famous rant last season was painful to hear, but the Spurs winger remains grateful to his former manager.
It was a tumultuous season for the Lilywhites last time out, as they struggled for consistency under Conte before the Italian was handed his marching orders.
One particular low point came when Spurs threw away a commanding lead in the dying minutes against Southampton to draw 3-3, prompting Conte to erupt in his press conference.
The former Inter Milan boss accused his Tottenham players of being ‘lazy’ and ‘selfish’ (Football London), adding that they were nothing more than a team of eleven individuals.
A number of Spurs players were reportedly irritated by these comments, and by Conte’s managerial style in general by this point (DailyMail).
Son does not think Conte meant what he said
However, Heung-min Son has no bad feelings towards his old manager, and does not believe Conte really meant what he said to the press.
Son said (Football London): “Urmmm… it is a bit painful but I think people see it in different ways. I don’t think he meant it. He was just in an aggressive way, an emotional way after the game.
“I’m grateful to him. I can’t say anything bad about him because I take the blame. I should have done much, much better. Two years ago I won the Golden Boot and the expectation was high.
“The team needed me in a different way in the difficult moments and, for any reasons, pain or whatever, I couldn’t perform so I still feel sorry for him.
“I was good with him. The season before was fantastic. I won the Golden Boot with him. I can’t say anything bad about him. I’m grateful to have worked with him.
“Obviously, the end was not ideal, not what we wanted but I’m grateful and I’ve learned lots of things about football and being a human being, and about being more passionate.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
Conte’s techniques probably work really well with certain players, but I think plenty in the Spurs squad needed an arm around the shoulder at times last season too.
In the end, he drove a wedge between himself and the squad, which is always a recipe for divorce in football.
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