The Mirror

Antonio Conte explains what angered him at Tottenham - 'You don't celebrate these things'

Former Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has reflected on his time in charge of the club and the Napoli boss has detailed one moment in particular which shocked him

Antonio Conte has opened up about his time in charge of Tottenham and taken a dig at the club for celebrating for a top-four finish. Conte joined Spurs in November 2021 after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked and they went on to finish fourth that season.

Spurs finished two points ahead of fierce rivals Arsenal after beating them 3-0 in a North London derby clash with just two games left to play. As a result, Tottenham qualified for the Champions League and Arsenal ended up in the Europa League.

And Conte was left shocked by the way his side celebrated finishing fourth, claiming that "going to the Champions League was like winning the Premier League ". Reflecting on his time at Spurs, Conte told Sky Italia : "It was a difficult year at Tottenham.

"I arrived in November with them ninth in the standings and we ended up in the Champions League, overtaking Arsenal… For them, going to the Champions League was like winning the Premier League.

"On the last day, the Champions League entry was celebrated in the dressing room. I called my staff and told them: we don't get used to these celebrations.

"You don't celebrate these things. We are used to celebrating other things. OK, great feat, but at the same time, we understand what kind of celebration it is."

Conte was axed the following season after publicly criticising the club and questioning his squad's mentality following a 3-3 draw with Southampton where Spurs blew a 3-1 lead. "Why is it happening? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it," he fumed.

"They don't play for something important yeah. They don't want to play under pressure, they don't want to play under stress. It is easy in this way.

"Tottenham's story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.

"You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every moment. Until now I try to hide the situation but now no because I repeat I don't want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans.

"They follow us, pay the ticket and to see the team another time to have this type of performance is unacceptable. We have to think a lot about this."

Tottenham made the bold decision to sack Ange Postecoglou despite the Australian boss winning them the Europa League, but the 59-year-old is not expected to be short of offers amid interest from the Saudi Pro League

Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is said to be "seriously considering" a move to the Saudi Pro League to coach Al-Ahli after his brutal sacking by Spurs earlier this month.

The Australian lost his job despite winning the Europa League for Tottenham, their first trophy in 17 years as he became only the third manager in their history to deliver a European trophy.

But he still came under huge pressure after the team finished in 17th place, their worst ever finish in the Premier League and the only side to lose 22 games without being relegated.

Spurs admitted it was "one of the toughest decisions we have had to make" as they insisted they couldn't be ruled by emotion in the wake of their cup success.

Postecoglou has since been replaced by Thomas Frank, who arrived from Brentford, and the ex-Celtic boss is now looking ahead to the next chapter in his career.

He has reportedly been approached by Saudi side Al-Ahli amid concerns that current boss Matthias Jaissle could leave the club after turning down a number of new contract offers. And according to the Sun, Postecoglou is attracted to the prospect of managing in the Middle East and is mulling over the Al-Ahli job should Jaissle depart.

The report goes on to say that the 59-year-old also has interest from England and in Europe. It adds that he would be open to another job in the Premier League if the opportunity presents itself.

If he does take over at Al-Ahli, Postecoglou would link up with England international Ivan Toney, as well as ex-Liverpool star Roberto Firmino, former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez and ex-Barcelona star Franck Kessie.

Al-Ahli have just won the AFC Champions League, so he could inherit a situation similar to Frank at Tottenham where is succeeding a successful manager.

Whatever Postecoglou's next move ends up being, he will be able to boast an impressive trophy record, having won silverware at almost every major team he's managed. He released a statement after his Spurs sacking, expressing his "pride" over his tenure and achievements.

"When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride," he said. "The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.

"Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream."

He was outstanding for Brentford last season but a £70million valuation of Bryan Mbeumo seems a touch excessive. But it seems that is what Spurs are prepared to pay in order to secure his services.

As no-one knows Mbeumo better than Thomas Frank, perhaps the 25-year-old is worth that sort of money but, on the overall evidence of his six years in England, it seems a touch excessive. And it would seem unlikely that Manchester United would match or better that figure.

But they might not need to. Mbeumo might tell Brentford that he wants to go to Old Trafford, not Spurs. As unlikely as it seems, Mbeumo could well be a test case for United’s pulling power, which was once unrivalled and has not faded as much as some people might think.

On the face of it, there are many reasons why a move to Spurs is a very attractive proposition for Mbeumo. In no particular order …

*He will be playing in the Champions League.

*He will be playing for a manager he clearly likes and has a relatively long and happy relationship with.

*He will not have to leave London.

And on the face of it, there are many reasons why a move to United is not an unequivocally attractive proposition. In no particular order …

*He will be playing for a manager who might not be there that long.

*He will be playing for a team that finished five places and 14 points below Brentford last season.

*He will not be playing in any European competition, never mind the Champions League.

But there is one fundamental reason why Mbeumo might try and insist on going north. It is still Manchester United. And whenever United re-establish themselves as an elite force in the Premier League - which they will, sooner or later - it will be the biggest story in town.

That is a fact, like it or not. (And I get it that a lot of people don’t.) One of Jurgen Klopp’s mantras was about wanting players who would ‘push the train, not jump on the running train.’

It was a reference to players who relished the challenge of being key to the revitalisation of a team. From his decision to join United and from his comments when signing, Matheus Cunha seems that sort of character.

“I know it’s been a hard season for everyone,” said Cunha. “But I think my decision shows what this club is for me and what I believe this club can be. For me, no-one else is like United.”

And again, a lot of people will not like it, but you can see where Cunha is coming from. Listen, money will play a part. It always does.

United will probably be in a position to pay Mbeumo considerably more than he might earn at Tottenham Hotspur. And a cynic might think the prospect of more money and, with no European football, a lighter workload might be of considerable appeal to the modern footballer.

But for all the club’s tribulations, for all the club’s mediocrity on the field, Manchester United is still a huge draw for a player. And in the case of their pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, Spurs might just be about to be reminded of that.

Ex-Spurs captain Hugo Lloris gives brutally honest verdict on Ange Postecoglou sacking

Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as Tottenham Hotspur manager despite leading the team to Europa League glory, with Thomas Frank taking his place

Hugo Lloris says a weight has been lifted off Tottenham’s shoulders after they ended their 17 year trophy drought. But Lloris also claimed that sacking Ange Postecoglou after his “remarkable” success was just a brutal reality of football.

Former Tottenham captain Lloris, 38, who spent 12 years at Spurs, is hoping lifting the Europa League will signal a change in the club’s fortunes. Los Angeles FC keeper Lloris, whose side face Chelsea in the Club World Cup, said: “I am really pleased.

"I am really happy for the club. For the people at the club, for the players. We ran for so many years after this trophy, finally the club got rewarded and it is well deserved.

“Hopefully it will make their shoulders a little bit lighter for the future and I think it is also the moment to build on this success for Spurs. Even if I am not a Spurs player, I still follow the news, the team and the results.

"I think Ange Postecoglou deserves a lot of credit, the players as well, it is not easy to win that kind of competition. It is also another way to get the Champions League.

“There was a lot of frustration and disappointment about the Premier League season but at the end, the last few years everybody was talking about trophies and finally they got one so that’s really good. I hope now they are going to build a momentum and get even more competitive in all the competitions they are involved in.”

Despite leading Tottenham to their first trophy since 2008, Postecoglou was given his marching orders and has now been replaced by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank. Even Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy admitted it was a tough decision to make the change but Spurs had lost 22 games in their Premier League season. However, Lloris was brutally honest about the failings of his teams during his time at the club and questioned whether they would have swapped finishing higher in the table for a trophy.

When asked whether the decision to sack Postecoglou surprised him, Lloris added: “No, nothing surprises me in football. But at the same time, it is hard to say something because I am on the other side. I don’t know what happened inside the club so it's really hard for me to judge.

“If they made this decision it is because they believe there is another option which is better for the future of the club. What Ange Postecoglou did was just remarkable. He brought this Europa League trophy, he brought a lot of joy to the Spurs community, a lot of pride as well and we all have to be thankful for that.

“I think they had a really hard season. They had a lot of injuries as well that affected the team and performances and I think in the second part of the season, it looks like they decided to go all-in for the Europa League.

“They made it and you just have to congratulate them because it is another way to go to the Champions League. At the end of the day, I don’t know, if you finish 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th and if you get a chance to win a trophy on the other hand, it is just an amazing achievement.

“I was part of a really competitive team for many years and the target was to reach the top four but at which price? We could not find a way to win a cup, a league cup or even a Europa League cup but we managed to go and get the top four for many years. I don’t know, it is all about the optics of the club.”

Tottenham are pursuing Bryan Mbeumo in a move that would reunite him with his former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, though the manager will already be pleased with two new players he gets to work with

Two Tottenham stars will know exactly where they stand with new Spurs boss Thomas Frank after the manager tried to sign them for Brentford. Spurs confirmed the appointment of Frank as their new head coach on Thursday.

The Dane joined as Ange Postecoglou's successor on a three-year deal after Daniel Levy triggered the £10million release clause in his contract. Frank had long impressed with his work in charge at the Gtech Community Stadium during a near seven-year period, with some of his assistant coaches now following him in the move to north London.

As he looks ahead to competing in the Champions League, Frank will be keen to quickly establish exactly who his key players are while signing new players of his choosing. And the 51-year-old will be pleased that he will now work alongside two players whom he almost signed for Brentford in recent years.

Frank and Brentford had a long-held interest in Brennan Johnson during his time with Nottingham Forest in the Championship. They had several bids rejected by Forest in the January window of 2022.

Brentford again pushed hard to sign Johnson in the summer of 2023, with Frank seeing the then 22-year-old as a pivotal part of his plans for the 2023/24 season after Ivan Toney was hit with an eight-month ban.

The west London side reportedly had a £40million bid rejected after falling short of Forest's £50m valuation. Spurs eventually won the race for Johnson, paying £47.5m to the east Midlands side before the summer transfer deadline.

The Lilywhites were once again able to get one over Frank’s Brentford last summer by signing Archie Gray from Championship side Leeds United. The versatile youngster was close to joining the Bees in a £40m move before the plug was pulled, as Leeds were unhappy with the structure of the deal Brentford were offering.

That led to Tottenham sweeping in and stealing Gray from under Frank's nose. The 19-year-old went on to feature heavily in the 2024/25 campaign, making 46 appearances in all competitions, with the majority of those games coming at centre-back.

Gray will be looking to kick on even more from August under Frank, who will now be the one in charge of his development - 12 months on from missing out on him.

Frank will also be keen to reunite with his star player, Bryan Mbeumo, from this season at Brentford, with Tottenham holding initial talks about a deal for the Cameroonian forward with their London rivals.

Mbeumo is one of the most sought-after Premier League players this summer transfer window after a stellar season at Brentford, in which he scored 20 top-flight goals while also contributing seven assists.

After enjoying his most prolific campaign to date under Frank, the 25-year-old has become more intrigued by a Spurs move now, having been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks.

Mbeumo arrived in west London from French side Troyes six years ago for a then-club record fee of £5.8m. Fast-forward to this transfer window and he's the subject of huge bids from both the Red Devils and Spurs.

United have had a bid of around £55m rejected by Brentford. And as reported already by Mirror Football, a first official step has been made towards reuniting Mbeumo and Frank, with Spurs technical director Johan Lange offering up £65m plus £5m in add-ons to land the Cameroon international.

However, Sky Sports reported that Mbeumo is still leaning towards United, who are expected to go back in with a fresh offer for the Brentford talisman.

Manchester United target Bryan Mbeumo is also wanted by Tottenham now that Thomas Frank is in charge and the Cameroon star feels his ex-Brentford boss will thrive at his new club

Bryan Mbeumo has tipped Thomas Frank to be a huge hit at Tottenham during an impromptu interview at the Canadian Grand Prix - but he did not discuss the battle for his signature between Spurs and Manchester United.

The Cameroon star, 25, is wanted by both clubs with a summer exit from Brentford now likely. It's understood that United is Mbeumo's preferred destination with the Red Devils in desperate need of reinforcements after enduring their worst ever Premier League campaign.

They have so far failed to meet Brentford's valuation of the player and the situation has been complicated by Frank's move to Spurs.

Mirror Football revealed prior to the weekend that they have launched a £70million bid to try and make Mbeumo their marquee summer signing by gazumping their rivals.

And while Mbeumo did not discuss interest from the two clubs in Montreal, he did endorse Frank to do a stellar job at his new club.

"He's done so much for me," Mbeumo told Sky Sports when he was asked how influential Frank has been during his career.

"He literally trusted me from the start [at Brentford] and he developed the team so well. He developed me as a human and a player so much as well. I can only wish him all the best and I'm sure he's going to do well."

He added: "He knows everything; he's really smart and knows what he wants to bring the team, how he wants them to play. He's been fantastic for Brentford."

Join the debate! Where do you think Mbeumo will be playing next season? Let us know here

Mbeumo is hot property after breaking the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League for the first time last season, helping Brentford to a 10th place finish.

Crucially, the Bees are not expected to prevent their star man after his stellar campaign, though it remains unclear where he will end up with the summer transfer window set to reopen on Monday.

The versatile forward feels he is currently at the peak of his powers, adding: "I think it's been my best season so far in the Premier League. Even collectively, I think we played very good and were unlucky [to not get] a European spot."

As the tug-of-war between Manchester United and Tottenham for Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo ensues, the Cameroonian international's previous admission adds more fuel to the fire

Bryan Mbeumo lastyear revealed his wish to play in the '"biggest competitions" for "the best clubs" amid interest from Manchester United and Tottenham. The Brentford star looks set to make a switch this summer on the back of a 20-goal Premier League campaign.

The 25-year-old enjoyed his most prolific campaign to date under Thomas Frank this season, having arrived in west London from French side Troyes six years ago for a then-club record fee of £5.8million. Fast forward to this transfer window, and he's the subject of bids exceeding £55m from both the Red Devils and Spurs.

Ruben Amorim's side looked all set to wrap up a deal for Mbeumo earlier this month, with reports suggesting he had 'prioritised' a move to Old Trafford, and personal terms would be no issue. However, his former boss Frank's move from the west of the capital to the north threw a spanner in United's works.

The Danish head coach has replaced Europa League-winning boss Ange Postecoglou at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it seems he wishes to bring Mbeumo along with him.

Spurs have now risen to the ascendency in securing Mbeumo's signature, tabling a £70m bid, £15m more than the £55m figure United had rejected, and reports suggest that the player is now 'more open' to staying in London. Comments made by the 25-year-old last May also give Frank's new side the edge.

Interest from top sides in Mbeumo can be traced back to the summer of 2024, when, after a campaign that saw him muster a respectable nine league goals, Liverpool and Newcastle came sniffing.

Mbeumo issued a response to rumours linking him with the Premier League's finest, and told L'Equipe: "I have spent five years at Brentford, at a club that has allowed me to grow and pass a milestone but yes, I would like to play in the biggest competitions, at the best clubs. It is tantalising to see some big clubs interested in me."

The winger ultimately stayed put at the Gtech Community Stadium last summer. However, his comments regarding playing in the biggest and best competitions arguably throw weight behind Tottenham's bid in the current battle for his signature.

While Amorim's United will be without European football next term, having finished the season in a lowly 15th, Spurs will grace the Champions League.

They bested the Red Devils 1-0 in the Europa League final, ending a 17-year wait for silverware and qualifying them for UEFA's elite club competition. Yet, while Mbeumo clarified that playing in a tournament like the Champions League is an aim, he added the caveat that he would like to do so for the 'best clubs.'

Not only did United finish slightly higher than Spurs in the Premier League this season, but they are also historically superior, having lifted a joint record 20 top-flight league titles, among countless other accolades that Tottenham have not.

Mbeumo himself has dropped few hints as to which side he would prefer, though a post on Instagram when it was announced that head coach Frank would be departing made for telling viewing.

The 25-year-old uploaded pictures of himself and Frank, captioned only with two prayer emojis, perhaps alluding to a desire to reunite, or maybe just wishing his former boss good luck.

Either way, it seems the pull of Champions League football and the prospect of playing under the coach who mentored him into stardom could give Tottenham the advantage in this bidding war, though United still cannot be ruled out.

Tottenham have opted to make Mathys Tel's deal a permanent one as he completes his move from Bayern Munich with Thomas Frank now looking to land Bryan Mbeumo

Tottenham have completed the signing of Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich on a permanent deal having landed him on loan back in January. The agreement gave the Premier League side the option to sign him this summer.

Thomas Frank has given the move the thumbs up and the French forward has now signed a deal in north London until 2031 for £30million. He becomes Tottenham's first signing after being bought to the club by Ange Postecoglou.

Tel made his debut for the Tottenham as a substitute against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and then marked his first start with a goal against Aston Villa in an FA Cup loss. He went on to make 20 appearances last term.

Frank was hired earlier this week following years of impressive work at Brentford, where he took them from the Championship to the Premier League. He is tasked with improving the club's domestic standing and has gone after his former player Bryan Mbeumo.

The Frenchman has just enjoyed his best season to date in front of goal and his signing would be a major statement given Manchester United's interest. Spurs have launched a £70m bid to hijack United’s move, which breaks down to £65m plus £5m in add-ons. That is £10m more than United’s.

Frank wants to bring the 25-year-old with him to north London. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy wants to deliver the Cameroon international with the club able to offer Champions League football - something they can't do at Old Trafford. United remain the preferred destination for Mbeumo however.

The Danish boss worked with Mbeumo since his arrival at Brentford from Troyes in 2019. United have already made two bids for Mbeumo, the most recent of which was a £60million package worth £55million plus £5million in add-ons last week. Brentford refused to accept it, leaving the door open for Spurs to come in with what could now be a decisive offer.

Frank is set to cast an eye over 18-year-old Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic in pre-season despite widespread loan interest in the Croatian. Spurs agreed a reported £12m package deal with Hajduk Split for the teenager, then 16, in September 2023 and they pipped Man City and PSG to his signature.

Tottenham are in no immediate rush to make a decision over his future as numerous clubs register their loan interest and they're yet to rule out Vuskovic potentially staying put as part of their first-team squad for next season.

Luka Vuskovic is set to arrive at Tottenham this summer after they struck a deal to sign the Croatian wonderkid from Hajduk Split in September 2023

Thomas Frank is set to cast an eye over 18-year-old Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic in pre-season despite widespread loan interest in the Croatian. Spurs agreed a reported £12million package deal with Hajduk Split for the teenager, then 16, in September 2023 and they're understood to have pipped Manchester City and PSG to his signature.

The towering defender starred on loan in Belgium last season with KVC Westerlo, scoring an impressive seven goals from the back, having also previously flourished in Poland during a six-month spell with Radomiak Radom in 2024.

Now a series of top-flight clubs from Germany, France and Belgium including Hamburg and Club Brugge have contacted his representatives to register an early interest in signing Vuskovic on loan for the 2025-26 season, should he become available.

However, Tottenham are in no immediate rush to make a decision over his future and they're yet to rule out Vuskovic potentially staying put as part of their first-team squad for the forthcoming campaign.

Earlier this week, he was handed his senior international debut by Croatia when he was a late substitute in a 5-1 World Cup qualification win over Czechia.

Spurs believe they have a major talent on their hands but they intend to manage his development carefully in a bid to ensure he fulfils his potential in north London.

Speaking earlier this month, Vuskovic was full of praise for the Europa League winners and shared his excitement about joining the club, stating: “First of all, I’m looking forward to feeling that level and seeing where I am in relation to the players who just won the Europa League so that I know what I need to work on the most.

“After that, I’ll see in agreement with the club which is the smartest next step. The club has proven to be careful and wise in making decisions so far. Belgium has proven to be an ideal league at this stage of my career, and I think it is otherwise a great development league because it gives a lot of opportunities to young players."

Belgian side Westerlo have also made no secret of the fact they're keen to forge a partnership with Tottenham to sign more players on loan from Spurs in the future, though their chances of landing Vuskovic for another year look very slim. Alfie Devine also gained valuable senior experience with the Jupiler Pro League outfit, netting six goals in 30 top-flight appearances.

In the past six weeks, even before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Spurs held a series of meetings with the representatives or their loanees to review their progress.

New boss Frank has a proven track record for utilising and developing talent both at Brentford and Brondby, having also previously coached Denmark at various youth levels.

Thomas Frank was named as Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach earlier this week and the first signing of the Dane's tenure is close to being agreed after fresh transfer talks

Mathys Tel is poised to become the first signing of the Thomas Frank era at Tottenham, with the Frenchman in advanced talks to make his loan move from Bayern Munich permanent.

Tel, 20, joined Spurs on loan in the January transfer window in a deal with an option for €50million (£42.5m). The versatile forward scored three times in 20 appearances, though the manager who signed him, Ange Postecoglou, is no longer at the helm.

Tottenham's decision to replace the Australian with Frank has had no bearing on a permanent move, though, with the club and Bayern now close to an agreement.

As outlined by Sky Sport Germany, Tottenham are set to pay around €35m (£30m) to keep Tel after negotiating fresh terms with the German giants, with Frank keen on retaining the forward's services.

And it's claimed that the France Under-21 star is also happy to make the switch permanent after getting a taste of life in the Premier League over the last six months.

Max Eberl, the Bayern sporting director, confirmed that talks over a deal were ongoing with Tottenham earlier this week amid talk that an agreement was close.

"Mathys was at Tottenham for six months. He wanted to play in the U21 European championship with France, and we allowed him to," he said, per Abendzeitung München. "We’re talking to Tottenham, that’s no secret. We’ll see how that pans out."

Frank is expected to be backed in the transfer market after signing a three-year contract to become the club's new head coach with more additions likely.

Mirror Football revealed that the Dane would love to take Bryan Mbeumo with him to Tottenham despite interest in the Cameroon international from Manchester United.

Spurs have since launched a £70m bid - consisting of £65m with a further £5m in add-ons - in a bid to gazump United, though it's understood that Old Trafford remains Mbeumo's preferred destination.

Spurs have also been linked with Yoane Wissa after prising Frank away from Brentford. The DR Congo and Mbeumo racked up 38 Premier League goals between them for the Bees last season and would instantly boost Tottenham's firepower.

Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo is also of interest to Spurs; the Ghana international has other top-flight suitors including Manchester United and is said to be valued by the Cherries at around £70m.