Tottenham manager Antonio Conte insisted his relationship with chairman Daniel Levy would not be harmed by people trying to “create problems” following his controversial comments about the club’s transfer policy.
Conte appeared to be disappointed with Levi’s January transfer window moves during a recent interview with Sky Sports Italia.
The 52-year-old Italian said Tottenham’s squad was “weak on paper” when Levy signed Juventus duo Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur and let go of Tanguy Ndombele, Dele Alli, Giovanni Lo Celso and Brian Gill.
Conte also acknowledged that Levy’s policy of focusing on young players will take time to pay off.
But, when the club asked him not to do any further interviews with Italian media, Conte tried to settle the dispute on Friday.
He doesn’t need to use the press to give Levy his views, Conte told reporters: “I don’t understand why anyone would want to try to cause problems with me.
“I’ve read stories about this club in the past and it creates a problem with the coach and the president and the club.
“The Speaker knows my views very well. If I want to talk to him, I go to talk to him.
“Sorry, but I was a little upset by this situation, especially because I had an interview with the Italian media.
“This means that the club no longer wants me to speak to the Italian media because the translation was not so clear from my views.”
Conte was sacked by Chelsea after two seasons, despite winning the Premier League title and the FA Cup, following his outing with the club over his outspoken views on his signing.
Amid fears that he was headed for a similar fate across London at Tottenham, Conte attempted to clarify his position on Levi’s wheel and behavior.
“After January ended, during the interview after the transfer window, he asked me about the club, was I happy, and I said the club did the best that the club could do,” he said.
“If I had 20 players and now I have 18 players numerically, you can be a little weak. numerically. Then I also said with Kulusevsky and Rodrigo Bentancur, as a squad we are more complete. I think I was very clear.”
Tottenham, ranked eighth, have lost their last three league games to bid for a top-four finish, with a visit from leaders Manchester City on Saturday offering hardly light at the end of the tunnel for Conte.
Asked if he is still happy at Tottenham following his appointment in November, Conte declined to look beyond this season.
“I’ve always said that I’m enjoying my time with Tottenham, enjoying working with these players. I’ve always said that,” he said.
“Then we have four months at the end of this season and we have to try our best to finish in the best place in this league. And then we’ll see.”
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