Video: Antonio Conte gives first post-match interview after five goal thriller

Antonio Conte has admitted that his Tottenham Hotspur players need to improve their confidence after they edged past nine-man Vitesse Arnhem.

Conte’s side looked to have had the game wrapped up within the opening half hour after they took a 3-0 lead, only to allow the visitors back into the game with individual errors once again proving to be costly.

Vitesse fought back and scored twice in seven minutes before half time and Spurs’ nerves became even more fraught when Cristian Romero was dismissed in the second half courtesy of two silly bookings.

Conte highlighted the fact that his side need to improve but called for patience due to the fact that he needs to work on multiple areas to get what he wants out of his players.

The 3-2 victory takes the North Londoners up to second in Group G at the expense of the Dutch side.

He told BT Sport: “It was a crazy game. Usually, I don’t like this type of game – a crazy game means anything can happen. But at the same time I think we should win and we won.

“We were winning 3-0 then conceded two goals we can avoid. After a red card we were in trouble. To win while suffering is good for this team, these players.

“They needed to improve their confidence. They needed to work a lot. the problem is we have to find the time to work. We have two days until the next game [they play Everton on Sunday], then it’s the international break.

“For sure we have to improve. It’s not easy because in two days we prepare for this [Everton] game… now we have only one day. Tomorrow it’s impossible to work with the players who played tonight. They used a lot of energy. Tomorrow they have to rest and we’ll work with the players who didn’t play.

“We need to have a bit of patience because we need to work on many aspects – tactically and physically. I’m not afraid about the work. I know only through the work you can reach important targets.”

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