Antonio previews City: “When you have the ball, you have to try to hurt them”
Wed 18 January 2023, 17:40|
Tottenham Hotspur
Antonio Conte has urged the players to make every moment count when we travel to Manchester City on Thursday (8pm UK).
Having lost out to league leaders Arsenal at the weekend, the tough games keep on coming as we go to City – who are themselves chasing down the Gunners – in search of a positive reaction and to boost our own pursuit of a top four spot.
Speaking exclusively to SPURSPLAY, Antonio said he and the players must continue to work as hard as possible if we’re to take anything away from the Etihad, as we did last season when a late Harry Kane goal gave us a memorable 3-2 win.
“You know very well that we are facing, in my opinion, the best team in this moment and one of the best teams in the world,” said the Head Coach. “We are talking about a team that is full of top players and for this reason we have to perform, to over-perform, to try to get a good result.
“Last season the result was good but you know very well, when you play against City, you have to concede possession of the ball for a long part of the game and in the part that you have the ball, you have to try to hurt them. We are working very hard to do it.”
Offering his thoughts on City striker Erling Haaland, who has plundered a remarkable 27 goals in all competitions, including 21 in the Premier League since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund last summer, Antonio continued: “We are talking about a young player but at the same time, I think his status is an important status. He is showing to be a really strong player, he has scored over 20 goals – it’s incredible in your first season in the Premier League to score in this way. Yes, we have to pay attention (to him), but we have to pay attention to all of Manchester City’s players because we are talking, I repeat, about a really good team.”
City are the only side we’re yet to face in the Premier League this season after the postponement of this fixture in September and with the home game against them due to take place on Sunday 5 February, it means we’re scheduled to battle Pep Guardiola’s men twice in two-and-a-half weeks. Antonio sees that not just as a challenge, but as an opportunity.
“We have to play game by game,” he added. “For sure, they will be two difficult games because they are second in the table, usually they win the league and also this season I think, with Arsenal, they are the two title contenders to win the Premier League. It won’t be easy, it’s normal, but at the same time it can also be a big push for my players to try to give everything to deliver a good result for our fans.”
