Antonio Conte has insisted that not beginning any of Tottenham’s six new signings of their Premier League season opener towards Southampton was ‘frequent sense’.
Spurs got here from a purpose right down to beat the Saints 4-1 on Saturday. James Ward-Prowse opened the scoring with a shocking half-volley, earlier than Ryan Sessegnon and Eric Dier turned the sport round earlier than half-time.
After the break, a comical personal purpose from Mohammed Salisu and a pearler from Dejan Kulusevski wrapped up the factors for Tottenham.
Nonetheless, a part of Spurs’ momentum heading into the brand new marketing campaign has come from their summer time window exercise. Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison and Djed Spence have all signed on, whereas Clement Lenglet has joined on mortgage.
However none began in Saturday’s win – Richarlison was handed a one-game suspension for throwing a flare into the group whereas at Everton and so was ineligible – and Conte defined post-match why he opted to not begin any of these accessible for choice.
“Me, I am not stunned as a result of I believe I used frequent sense. On this second we’re beginning the brand new season and the outdated gamers reached an enormous achievement final season to get a spot within the Champions League,” he stated
“My message was very clear. I belief loads within the outdated gamers and on this second they’re extra dependable than the brand new gamers as a result of they should work with us and implement their soccer data.
“With the outdated gamers I’m a step ahead than the brand new gamers. I believe it was proper after this sport and the ultimate sense. I’m actually blissful although as a result of we’ve got new signings who will go into our course of and they’ll be taught quick to enhance and on the identical time they should know that they should struggle and provides me the chance to rotate.
“Proper now, we’re enjoying as soon as per week however in September it is going to be three video games per week and it is necessary to rotate with out dropping the standard and the membership agreed with me.”
