‘You can’ – Conte explains his philosophy of Spurs players making mistakes

Following his side’s 3-2 defeat to Southampton, Antonio Conte has admitted that Tottenham have to learn from the mistakes they made defensively for the Saints’ two late goals.

Tottenham’s defeat on Wednesday was their first in the Premier League at home under Conte and the result came as a blow to the club’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

The manner of the defeat was particularly painful for the home side as they worked hard to get the lead in the second half through Son Heung-min, only to throw the result away in the final ten minutes.

Southampton scored two very similar goals in 80th and 82nd minute through Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams as Tottenham failed to deal with two crosses into the box.

Conte admitted that the goals his side conceded were avoidable and, although it was okay for players to make mistakes, they must reduce the regularity as they progress.

The Spurs boss told Football.London in his post-match press conference: “For sure you attack with ten players and you defend with ten players. When you concede a goal there is a kick and in the top angle, you can only clap your opponent.

“Otherwise, in every goal there are situations that you can improve. I think it’s normal when you conceded three goals. For sure, we scored two goals and the goals we scored there are situations that Southampton can improve.

“I repeat, we have to work and to know that our season will be tough. It will be tough, we have to know this. But I repeat I am pleased with the effort and commitment of my players.

“I ask them to always have personality, good personality and then during the game you can make mistakes but we have to try reduce mistakes and to improve in other aspects.”

Spurs Web Opinion

While Sanchez and Emerson failed to deal with crosses into the box for our final two goals, it is unfair to lay the blame entirely on those two, as some on social media seem to be doing.

I thought Romero also vacated his position too often through the game in his keenness to push up and win the ball. That almost cost us a couple of times earlier in the game when Southampton got in behind our backline with a simple long ball over the top.

Yesterday’s game proved how important Dier is to our defensive set-up. The 28-year-old is a real leader and organises the backline from his sweeper role in a way that the likes of Romero and Sanchez do not.

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