‘Caught in two minds’: Pundit claims Conte will be baffled by Yves Bissouma after Manchester United

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Mike Phelan has told Stadium Astro that Yves Bissouma has now given Antonio Conte a problem at Tottenham he probably didn’t want or need.

Bissouma has played recently as part of a midfield three as Conte battles a number of injuries at the top end of the pitch. The £25m summer signing from Brighton had been waiting for his chance and had done well before Spurs were well-beaten by Man United in midweek.

And Phelan, who coached for years at United, told Stadium Astro that Bissouma’s performance at Old Trafford will have worried Conte.

“I think it was their game plan and United snuffed the game plan out. But you have to confident enough to receive the ball facing the way you want to play. I think in Bissouma’s case he was caught in two minds. He was coming to receive the ball with his back to the United midfield players, his back to the press, and it was vulnerable because he was encouraging pressure. It was a problem for Tottenham,” Phelan said.

“I think it’s cause Antonio Conte a few more dilemmas. We spoke after Everton how they looked better when Bissouma had come into the team. Today (Wednesday) he starts the game with him and he’s got caught up in the mindset of ‘i’ve found a secret here’ and now he’s probably going away and wondering what he does next.”

TBR’s View: Bissouma Needs Time At Tottenham

The problem is, will he get it? The duo of Bentancur and Hojbjerg was doing so well before that Bissouma might find himself back out when the attacking players start to come back.

We all know Bissouma is a fine player. But there is different pressure at a club like Spurs and it remains to be seen if he’ll adapt over the course of the season.

Right now, he simply needs to do his best and hope that it’s enough to convince Conte.