‘Top clubs are not looking’ – Former Italy international labels Conte ‘third-level’ coach

Former Roma star Antonio Cassano has slammed Antonio Conte, insisting that the new Tottenham head coach is a ‘third-level’ coach.

Conte arrives at Tottenham with an unbelievable CV, having won trophies at almost every club he has managed.

The Italian kickstarted Juventus’ run of nine-consecutive titles back in 2012 and he was the man who eventually broke their run at Inter Milan last season.

The 52-year-old has also impressed in the Premier League, taking Chelsea to the title in his first season in English football back in 2016/17.

Spurs fans will be hoping that the former Inter boss is the man to turn the Lilywhites’ fortunes around and take them back into the Champions League.

However, Cassano stated that none of Europe’s top clubs wanting Conte suggests he is not as good as some people make him out to be. The former Italian international also insisted that Conte does not play the kind of football that top clubs demand.

Cassano told JuventusNews24 (as relayed by TEAMtalk): “In June he was asked by Tottenham, they called him and he said no, after three months he says yes.

“How come he has never been considered by Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern or these top, top teams?

“Everyone says he is a phenomenon and brings results but the top clubs are not looking for him. United have never asked for him either.

“What I think is that the top four, together with Milan, have made history in the world. None of these have ever looked for him. He doesn’t have that top manager status, to let the team play in a certain way.

“I believe that the status of Conte is not first or second, but third level. He is good at rebuilding but does not give a beautiful, winning game.”

Spurs Web Opinion

That is a rather harsh assessment from Cassono but in my opinion, there is a kernel of truth to what he is saying.

While Conte is undoubtedly one of the top 7 or 8 managers in the world, I am not sure that he is in the top 3 or 4, as some people seem to think he is.

The Italian is tactically astute but very inflexible with his system and we have also seen that players get tired of his intensity rather quickly.

Of course, none of this means that Spurs were wrong to appoint him as he was still the best option available, and he could well be the man who finally breaks our trophy drought.

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