Former Tottenham Hotspur player and manager, Glenn Hoddle, recently shared his thoughts on whether Antonio Conte will still be at the club next season. Hoddle, who was covering Tottenham’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers for BT Sport Score on March 4, witnessed another disappointing afternoon for Spurs as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Molineux.
Despite Tottenham having plenty of chances, they couldn’t find a way past Wolves’ goalkeeper, Jose Sa, and lost control of the game as it went on. Hoddle noted that aside from Harry Kane, no Tottenham players are in any sort of form in front of goal, and Wolves did well to negate the threat posed by the England captain.
Conte, the current Tottenham manager, still hasn’t signed a new deal with the club, although Spurs can extend his current contract by another year. As the team edged towards another disappointing defeat, Hoddle was asked whether he thinks Conte will stay at the club. “I’m not so sure he’s going to stay, whatever these results,” Hoddle said. “I’m not 100% convinced. If you’re going to stay, you make that decision now.”
Conte has been absent from the touchline for most of this month after having gall bladder surgery. It’s been a difficult year for the 53-year-old away from football, and that may play a role in his decision when this campaign ends. Sporting director Fabio Paratici was immediately on the phone to Conte after the full-time whistle, indicating that the situation is being monitored closely.
Hoddle’s prediction that Conte may not be at Tottenham next season echoes the thoughts of journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke. The football hasn’t been great to watch this campaign, which Spurs fans are much happier to accept when they’re winning. However, defeats like the one against Wolves only build more pressure and create plenty of frustration.
Tottenham will want Conte to make a decision soon so they can start preparing to find a replacement if required. The uncertainty surrounding the manager’s future is likely to affect the team’s performance on the pitch, and the sooner it is resolved, the better it will be for all involved. For now, Spurs fans will have to wait and see what the future holds for their team and their manager.