Conte details reason for recent outburst as Tottenham exit rumors intensify

Topics: English Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Antonio Conte, Daniel Levy

The Italian coach has come clean after hitting out at his side following their recent defeat to Burnley.

Antonio Conte has subtly hit out at Tottenham Hotspur once again after revealing the reason behind his outburst following the defeat at Burnley. The 52-year-old Italian coach stated that he was simply being honest and questioned the Premier League club's motive of hiring him if they were not ready to support his ambition.

Following their historic 3-2 win over Manchester City on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur were handed a humbling at the hands of Burnley, picking up a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor on Wednesday. The night's result put the North London club in a difficult position in their bid to close in on the other competing for a Champions League qualification place in the Premier League table.

Currently, Spurs sit in eighth position - seven points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United and, although they still have two games in hand to try and catch-up, Antonio Conte is still not convinced about the direction the club is headed. In his press conference ahead of Saturday's visit to Leeds, the Spurs boss insisted he did not care if his words upset his side who have managed just a win and four defeats from their last five Premier League outings.

Asked if his blunt assessment risked "destabilising" the club and players, he said: "Why? Because I tell the truth? If you tell the truth, you destabilise?

"My family said to me: 'With the truth, you grow, with a lie you destabilise people'. I think the opposite. With the truth, you grow and not destabilise the club or the players. If I destabilise someone, not then [the person is not] a good man, [nor is the club] a good club. I want a strong club, strong men, strong players. The truth is the only way that I know to grow."

"The reaction of the players has to be to work. They have to be angry, same way that I am angry. Then stop," he added.

On the subject of his future, Conte did not give anything away. He said: "I think that in this moment I guarantee the best commitment that I can give to this club.

"I have another year of contract with this club, but you know very well that football is very strange. "You can have three, four years of contract and the club can sack you.

"Sometimes, someone decides to go away. I think that we are starting to build something important for the club. I have always left every club much better than when I found it.

"For sure, it will be the same for this club. If you ask me in four months, one year, two years, three years; now, it is very difficult to answer this question. But for sure, I am working to improve the club in every aspect."

He added: "I'm sure the club is appreciating what we are doing. But the problem is I am a perfectionist."