Journalist shares reason Conte isn’t concerned by Tottenham style of play

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Journalist Miguel Delaney has said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show that he has been told by some who know Antonio Conte that the underwhelming style of play Tottenham Hotspur have right now is a deliberate ploy from the boss ahead of the second-half of the season.

Spurs have definitely been the side who have gone under the radar amongst the pace-setters in the Premier League. They now sit third, level on points with Manchester City.

It has been an amazing start on paper for Conte’s men. But they have certainly received a lot less plaudits than both of the teams above them in the table. And that is probably down to the style of football Spurs have been playing.

Conte holding his players back with Tottenham style of play

Tottenham have certainly been the least exciting of the top three. That has led to real criticism when results have gone against them. And there has been plenty of confusion given the expectations ahead of Conte’s first full season in charge.

Of course, there was always a chance that Spurs were building towards something much more impressive. And it is potentially ominous for their rivals that they are so close to the summit when not playing really well.

But, as it turns out, Conte knows exactly what he is doing – if you can believe that. Delaney suggested that many around the Tottenham boss believe that he is purposely holding his side back – for now.

“I’ve been told separately by people who know him in Italy that there’s a thinking that one of the reasons that Spurs look a little bit stale at the moment is because he’s trying to conserve their energy and their physical output for the season for after the World Cup. So he’s consciously having them play a bit more restrained right now,” he told The Kelly and Wrighty Show.

Tottenham fans would have hoped that there would be another gear for the side. And they would have expected the team to find it quite organically.

If Delaney is correct, the reality is more frightening for Tottenham’s rivals. Conte knows when the switch is going to be flipped.

And a Spurs side which probably already puts most teams to shame with their running statistics is poised to do even more in the months ahead.