Antonio Conte has hit back at Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager criticized his Italian coach’s tactics and Tottenham’s performance at Anfield.
Although Jurgen Klopp has apologized for his comment and claims something the manager gets carried away after matches.
However, Antonio Conte believes the German wanted an excuse for his team’s results and insisted that Tottenham was the better side at the end of the day and Liverpool was lucky to escape with a draw.
What was said?
Speaking at a press conference ahead of their London derby with Arsenal on Thursday Antonio Conte said: Those who know me know very well that I want to win every game. I tried to transfer my thoughts to my players.’
‘For sure when I stay in one team, at one club, my aspiration, my fight, is to win the title. To win the league in England is not easy. Guardiola said Liverpool only won one league in 30 years, which shows it’s not simple but maybe it’s easier to win the Champions or other competitions.
‘After the game against Liverpool, the best answer I had was that the players were disappointed after the game because they felt they had the possibility to win.
‘We analyzed the game the day after and if there was one team that should have won the game it was Tottenham and not Liverpool. I think Klopp understood Liverpool gained a point rather than lost two points.
‘At the same time I think Jurgen is an intelligent person, he’s very clever, and he was a bit frustrated after the game.
‘But at the same time, I think for us, for every top coach, it’s important to learn after the game it’s important to be focused on your team and not your opponent.
‘If you’re focused on your opponent it means you want to find an excuse or an alibi because you didn’t do your job well or something went wrong.
‘Honestly, for the coach it is not simple after the game, you have to try to keep your head cool. Sometimes it is not easy and many times if you remember this season I was disappointed with the result and myself and my players.
‘When we lost against Burnley if you remember I gave to myself the fault of the defeat.
‘Sometimes we are a bit frustrated, especially at the end of the season when a bad result can change an important target for you.
‘I repeat, I have respect for Jurgen and I know he respects me a lot and this is a good chance for him and for me also to learn that during the game you never have to speak about your opponent. It is important to be focused on your team in the situation you could maybe do better and to speak about your problems.’
Tottenham is currently fifth on the Premier League table and is fighting with Arsenal and Chelsea for a Champions League spot with Manchester City and Liverpool already secured their place in next season’s Champions League.
Thursday London derby with Arsenal is more of a Champions League play-off.
