Antonio previews Everton: "This is a good game for us"

Antonio Conte sees time as key for the rest of the season - time with the players on the training pitches at Hotspur Way.

Barring international breaks and postponements for COVID and snow at Burnley, we had midweek games from August all the way up to February, when a clear week gave Antonio that time to prepare the squad for the trip to Manchester City, a game we won in thrilling style, 3-2.

Last week’s defeat at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup means we’ve now 13 matches remaining in the Premier League, and only one midweek game scheduled at the moment, at Brighton on Wednesday 16 March. The north London derby at home also has to be rearranged.

“For sure, if we are to find a positive situation, it’s this, from now until the end of the season, I will have more days to work with the players,” Antonio told us ahead of the first of those 13 matches against Everton at home on Monday evening (8pm). “We have to try to exploit this situation, more days to work with the team and to prepare for games.”

Asked about Everton, Antonio reiterated in his press conference: “This is a good game for us, in the right moment. We are having the right time to prepare the game and, for sure, from now until the rest of the season, the only positive thing is we can have more days to prepare for the games. In the past when we had more time to prepare, we had good results.

“We know we’re facing a good team and a new manager. Frank Lampard is showing that he can do this job very well. In his last two experiences he did well with Derby and with Chelsea. Monday will be a tough game for both teams.”

Antonio on Spurs TV