The Evening Standard have revealed that some within the Tottenham hierarchy saw the club’s exit from the Europa Conference League as a ‘blessing in disguise’ as it allowed Antonio Conte more time to work with his squad.
Spurs bowed out of the European third-tier competition after being unable to fulfil their final group match against Rennes due to a Covid outbreak at the club.
UEFA, to much controversy, handed the French side an automatic 3-0 victory via forfeit and with Vitesse winning their tie against Slovenian minnows NS Mura, Spurs’ fate in the competition was sealed.
Football.London reported in January that Tottenham intended on filing an appeal against their exit having briefed the club’s lawyers, but it was eventually decided they would not pursue further action (PA Sport’s Jonathan Veal).
But some within the board allegedly felt it would be a blessing in disguise for Tottenham to bow out of Europe, giving the squad more time to concentrate on domestic form and progress under Conte.
The Evening Standard claimed some of the Tottenham hierarchy viewed UEFA’s ruling as frustrating, though launching an appeal would be ‘pointless’ considering the Italian had only just walked through the doors at Hotspur Way.
The N17 outfit has won seven of its last nine Premier League games – the latest a 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa – to propel them into fourth place and three points ahead of rivals Arsenal.
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Spurs Web Opinion
The Conference League exit was frustrating and pretty unfair considering the circumstances, but Spurs have seen through the negatives and picked out a good thing in that scenario.
The lack of games has definitely helped Conte get his point across much better as they have had less of a compact schedule, and the players seem to have adapted to his ideas very clearly.
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