Crooks defends Antonio Conte after Tottenham suffer defeat to Wolves

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Garth Crooks has told BBC Sport that Tottenham Hotspur must stick by Antonio Conte, insisting that Manchester United would snap the Italian up in a second if they had the chance.

The honeymoon period is over for Conte at Tottenham. They have not won back-to-back games since December. And they have now lost five of their last eight games in all competitions.

Conte is now looking to end a run of three Premier League defeats in a row, following losses to Southampton and Wolves last week. Unfortunately, Manchester City lie ahead for Spurs.

Some managers may have come under pressure off the back of this sort of run. However, the Tottenham fans know that they have one of the world’s best in Conte. And the current issues are not down to him.

The fear will be that Daniel Levy does not back the Italian to the level where he feels he can continue in the role. And Crooks has highlighted what a blow it would be for Tottenham to lose Conte.

“Quite what Hugo Lloris was doing punching a ball that former Tottenham great Pat Jennings would have caught with one hand, I don’t know,” he told BBC Sport, as he reflected on the first goal they conceded against Wolves.

“Spurs look like they are struggling under Antonio Conte, but the Italian is a good manager and they can’t afford to lose him. Manchester United would snap him up in a second.”

Levy has to get things right after handing Tottenham job to Conte

Levy has come in for plenty of criticism in recent years. It is remarkable that they did not do more to kick on after challenging for the Premier League and Champions League.

That policy came back to haunt them, as did some of their managerial appointments.

Admittedly, some felt that turning to Jose Mourinho could be a masterstroke. His era was never likely to be remembered as fondly as Mauricio Pochettino’s. However, the Portuguese had a track record that suggested that he could get Tottenham back across the trophy line.

Unfortunately, it became apparent that Mourinho’s powers are on the wane. And thus, the appointment of Conte appears to have been the first where Tottenham have turned to a world-class boss somewhere near his peak.

In terms of his legacy, Levy now appears to have gone all-in by turning to Conte. If he does not back the Tottenham boss in the market, the discontent amongst the fans may become too loud for the Spurs chief to ignore.