Antonio Conte expresses gratitude towards those who embraced his ‘passion’ after departure from Tottenham.

Antonio Conte has expressed his gratitude to the Spurs fans and other followers of his “passion” after his departure from the club.

The Italian coach left Tottenham by mutual consent after being in charge for 16 months. One of the reasons that led to his exit was when he called his players “selfish” after they lost a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 at Southampton earlier this month.

Conte wrote on his Instagram page, “Football is a passion. I would like to deeply thank everyone at Spurs who appreciated and shared my passion and my intense way of living football as a coach.

“A special thought to the fans who always showed me support and appreciation, it’s been unforgettable to hear them singing my name. Our journey together has ended; I wish you all the best for the future.”

Cristian Stellini has taken over as the acting Head Coach after his promotion from Assistant following the departure of Conte’s confidant. Stellini had worked as Conte’s number two at Juventus and Inter Milan. Ryan Mason will support him in his new position.

Emerson Royal will join the injury list for Tottenham after suffering a knee injury in Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Morocco. The defender is expected to be out for six weeks. Emerson will undergo surgery on Tuesday and will have to race against time to feature again for Spurs this season. Tottenham will finish their Premier League season on May 28, and the club already has a lengthy list of absentees for their fixture against Everton on Monday.

Both Ben Davis and Richarlison suffered muscle injuries in the dramatic draw with Southampton in March. The Wales defender is out for the season with a hamstring issue, while Richarlison will not be available for the emotional Goodison Park return.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has urged the board to be more transparent about their strategy. Since the last four consecutive seasons, the club has changed managers frequently.

Less than two years ago, at the end of the 2020/21 season in May, Chairman Daniel Levy informed fans that the club would prioritize recruiting a coach whose values reflect those of the club, with a return to the football style the club is known for. However, recent appointments of Nuno Espirito Santo and then Antonio Conte, following Jose Mourinho’s spell, do not reflect the promises made.

“As another season without silverware comes to an end, we would urge the club board to reassess those priorities before appointing a manager the entire fanbase will get behind and building a team that can truly challenge for domestic and European honors, respecting the traditions of our football club,” reiterated the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust.