Antonio Conte: Italian thanks Tottenham and fans for sharing 'passion' for football

Antonio Conte said it has been "unforgettable" proceeding the Tottenham supporters sing his sanction during his clip arsenic manager

Antonio Conte has thanked Tottenham's fans for their "support and appreciation", portion besides saying helium welcomed those astatine the nine who shared his passionateness for football.

On Instagram, Conte said the fans had ever fixed him vocal support.

He wrote: "Our travel unneurotic has ended, I privation you each the best."

Conte called the Spurs players "selfish" and was stinging successful his disapproval of the club's civilization aft his broadside squandered a two-goal pb arsenic they drew 3-3 astatine Southampton earlier the planetary break.

His erstwhile adjunct Cristian Stellini volition measurement up arsenic caput manager for the remainder of the season, with erstwhile midfielder Ryan Mason his deputy.

Conte added: "Football is passion. I would similar to profoundly convey everyone astatine Spurs who appreciated and shared my passionateness and my aggravated mode of surviving shot arsenic a coach.

"A peculiar thought to the fans who ever showed maine enactment and appreciation, it's been unforgettable to perceive them singing my name."

Tottenham are 4th successful the Premier League, though having played doubly much than fifth-placed Newcastle, and were knocked retired of the Champions League astatine the past 16 signifier by AC Milan and dumped retired of the FA Cup by Championship broadside Sheffield United.

They are present searching for a 4th imperishable manager successful 4 years since Mauricio Pochettino near successful 2019.

They spell to Goodison Park to look relegation strugglers Everton successful the apical formation connected Monday, 3 April astatine 20:00 BST.

• Conte departure became formality aft disapproval
• Who should beryllium Conte's semipermanent Spurs successor?
• Spurs' Emerson to acquisition genu country

Spurs cannot beryllium seen arsenic a manager's 'consolation prize'

Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton told the Monday Night Club connected BBC Radio 5 Live that the benignant of shot would beryllium important for Tottenham and that ex-boss Pochettino could beryllium the manager to watch.

"I deliberation Pochettino is simply a truly absorbing one," said Sutton. "It's absorbing due to the fact that I fishy a batch of Spurs fans similar the thought of him returning and that full emotion communicative opening again, having a 2nd opportunity.

"But I bash deliberation determination are Spurs fans who mightiness consciousness somewhat peeved astatine the mode helium near and don't privation to spell backmost there.

"I fishy the disappointment is going to beryllium astir marque of football, arsenic overmuch arsenic anything, and what the Spurs fans request due to the fact that past astatine slightest if trophies don't come, [chairman] Daniel Levy volition person the retired of saying 'look, I'm giving you what you privation successful presumption of marque of football'.

"So, successful presumption of that 'brand of football', I deliberation Spurs would emotion [former Spain manager] Luis Enrique."

Rory Smith of the New York Times questioned whether Conte was ever genuinely committed to the relation astatine Spurs.

"Conte was successful for the Real Madrid occupation astir the clip helium went for Spurs and were reportedly reasoning astir a caller manager and helium was 1 of the names mentioned," Smith told the Monday Night Club.

"I deliberation helium took Spurs - partially due to the fact that helium loves London and partially due to the fact that Spurs are charismatic - but helium was besides reasoning 'well, the 1 I privation is not available, truthful I'll instrumentality [Tottenham] and that'll beryllium good for a bit, and past possibly the Real Madrid 1 volition travel up.

"Spurs request to present find a manager who sees them arsenic their large accidental and not arsenic their consolation prize."

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