Spurs boss Antonio Conte did have one good thing to say about rivals West Ham after praising an exciting summer signing.
It is fair to say Conte was not overly impressed by what he saw from West Ham when they drew 1-1 with his Tottenham Hotspur side last Wednesday night.
Conte labelled West Ham a long ball team and said Spurs should have won the game at the London Stadium.
“They play this long ball (style), (long) throw-ins, corners you have to pay great attention. I think that we did well also on set pieces to defend well…” Conte said after Spurs’ clash with the Hammers.
The Italian was wrong of course. It was Spurs hanging on in the end as West Ham missed a host of chances.
And statistics after the game proved as much, showing Tottenham actually played more long balls than West Ham.
Conte may not have been impressed with what West Ham had to offer.
But he was with something Tottenham’s rivals did in the transfer window.
West Ham made eight signings in the summer to the tune of around £170m – the third biggest spend in the Premier League.
And Spurs boss Conte did have one good thing to say about West Ham after praising exciting summer signing Gianluca Scamacca.
The Tottenham manager has one of the best strikers in world football leading his attack in the shape of Harry Kane.
And having managed some top clubs his opinion on players carries some weight.
So West Ham fans will be excited that the Italian has raved about his compatriot Scamacca, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport he is an “excellent player” who will make the Hammers even better.
“Scamacca is an excellent player, still very young,” Conte told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It’s important for the national team that he plays in the Premier League.
“You’ve seen with Jorginho how players can improve by playing in this league, one of the best in terms of intensity and pace.”
Conte was clearly feeling emotional after the West Ham game which is understandable given what is at stake in a big London derby.
And speaking in the interview he praised West Ham and the work being done by Moyes.
“They all (Scamacca and the new signings) play for an excellent team who signed important players, hoping to become even stronger,” Conte added.
“David Moyes is among the best and most experienced coaches in England, it’s always tough to face them.”
Credit where it is due. Next time West Ham fans will be hoping Scamacca is available to face Tottenham and will prove Conte right.
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