News Every Day | 03 March 2022, 23:59

Conte threatened Tottenham squad with remarkable punishment if they failed to beat Leeds

What action Antonio Conte would’ve exacted on his Tottenham squad if they failed to turn up against Leeds Utd has come to light, according to a prominent journalist.

Tottenham’s FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night was the latest Jekyll and Hyde display since Conte took charge. Spurs have lurched from one extreme to another under the Italian, with their recent results a microcosm of the club.

Spurs defeated Man City in the Premier League before losing 1-0 to Burnley next time out. They then thumped Leeds United 4-0, but couldn’t back that up when bowing out of the FA Cup at the Riverside.

That led to Roy Keane launching a savage tirade at the club before taking umbrage with a question about Harry Kane’s future.

Now, Football London’s Tottenham specialist, Alasdair Gold, has claimed Conte had a particular punishment in mind if they didn’t bounce back against Leeds.

Spurs had suffered a 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor three days prior to travelling to Elland Road. Tottenham came out with renewed vigour in Yorkshire before plundering a 4-0 victory in what proved to be Marcelo Bielsa’s final match in charge of Leeds.

Tottenham squad told not to go home

And according to Gold, that bounce back may in part have been down to Conte’s threat of punishment.

Gold claimed Conte had told his players they must not return to their homes if they didn’t beat Leeds. That would’ve manifested itself in the form of staying at the club’s Lodge hotel at their training ground.

While that may not sound a particularly harsh punishment to some, Gold begged to differ.

The journalist said on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast: “I understand it that after that game [Burnley] he threatened the players essentially with, if they don’t beat Leeds, they’re all going to spend the time in between the Leeds and Middlesbrough match staying over at The Lodge at Hotspur Way.

“If you think about it, it’s being away from your family.

“It’s the same as you or I, really, having to sleep over at our work every single night and then having to start the next morning.

“I’m sure it’s very nice, but it is you going to work, staying there, not seeing your children, not seeing your wife or whatever, your partner, and going straight into work.”

Leipzig star rises into Paratici sights

Meanwhile, Tottenham are reportedly targeting a summer move for highly-touted Red Bull Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.

Per the Daily Mail, The 20-year old Croatia international is said to have leapt ahead of the likes of Inter star Stefan de Vrij, Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Lille’s Sven Botman as Spurs’ sporting director Fabio Paratici looks to bolster the club’s backline this summer.

Gvardiol joined Leipzig from Dinamo Zagreb in 2020 after turning down an £18million switch to Leeds United. The player is described as quick, strong in the air and technically good on the ball. He also has the ability to play at left-back and as a defensive midfielder.

Leipzig, who splashed out £15m for the player and handed him a five-year contract, are reluctant to leave him leave. However, they are aware of interest from other clubs – with Tottenham chief among them.

Paratici has been briefed to sign at least one new central defender this summer, given Conte’s preference to play three at the back.

Gvardiol is currently valued at £50m by Leipzig, which may put off other suitors. That figure should not be an issue for Spurs, however, especially if they can offload some fringe men first.

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