In the space of a week, Spurs have been knocked out of the FA Cup, lost to Wolves in the Premier League, and now been knocked out of the Champions League, and it looks as though Antonio Conte's time as manager of the club may soon come to an end.
Spurs were dire once again on Wednesday night as a 0-0 draw against Milan in London confirmed they would exit by a single goal on aggregate at the last 16 stage.
To compound the misery, Cristian Romero received a second yellow card for a wild challenge which summed up Spurs' complete lack of control over the occasion.
Conte's side were booed at half time and at full time by the home crowd, while one of the boss' subsitutions also drew the ire of the Spurs fans - it appears the Italian may now be out of time.
Spurs Champions League exit may spell end for Antonio Conte
Cristian Romero's wild red card against Milan defined what was a poor team performance and a fully deserved Champions League exit from Spurs on Wednesday night.
Cristian Romero received a red card after two yellows from these challenges on Rafael Leão and Theo Hernandez 😳 pic.twitter.com/TDpGqMsKun
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) March 8, 2023
But, on a night when Spurs' hopes of any silverware in 2022-23 were firmly ended, the focus of most fans fell on manager Antonio Conte.
Just over 16 months since he took over in North London, Conte's short reign appeared to die a whimpering death in the rain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night.
Faith from fans was already wavering, and reports earlier this week suggested that neither Conte nor Spurs have much interest in renewing his contract once it expires in the summer. Judging by the reaction of some fans to Wednesday night's loss, they would not be devastated to see Conte depart.
Conte's defensive tactics were defined by a late substitution which saw him bring on defender Davinson Sanchez for wide man Dejan Kulusevski with little over 10 minutes to go in a Champions League tie which Spurs were losing 1-0. Boos rang around the stadium when Sanchez was brought on, and the substitution appeared to tip the scale for many of the club's supporters.
You need a goal, you bring on sanchez. 10 men or not, this is kitchen sink time. You are going out of the champions league. You’ve taken off a forward. When your losing… with 10 minutes to go….
— Abbi Grace Summers (@AbbiSummers) March 8, 2023
That Kulusevski for Sanchez is nail in coffin for me. Get him out and start fresh
— George (@georgeachillea) March 8, 2023
Boos for Conte as Kulusevski is taken off and Sanchez is brought on.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) March 8, 2023
To Dare is to not bring Sanchez on for Kulu when you need to bloody win
— ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅ ᴇʟʟɪs • (@fullback03) March 8, 2023
Sanchez for Deki may actually be the worst sub I’ve ever seen. Conte wants to get sacked.
— Rickles 🇺🇲 (@burks_eric) March 8, 2023
He should be sacked for that Sanchez sub. Get the fuck out.
— tehTrunk (@tehTrunk) March 8, 2023
10 minutes left of the tie, we have subbed off our only creative player for DAVINSON SANCHEZ 🤣
— The Spurs Watch (@TheSpursWatch) March 8, 2023
Conte bleated on about needing the crowd…
Play a way which excites a crowd and you might hear them singing. Play this turgid, slow, predictable football and the fans will revert to silence.
This is not the Tottenham way. Compare this to the CL atmosphere of 2018/19.— Craig (@Craig_Pankhurst) March 8, 2023
Conte out, Levy out, ENIC out. All of them can fuck off.
— TalkTHFC (@TalkTHFC__) March 8, 2023
Conte may as well head back to Italy with the Milan squad tonight
— Phil Egan (@philegansport) March 8, 2023
He must go. Sack Antonio Conte tonight. pic.twitter.com/qHGSdq3ARI
— The Spurs Watch (@TheSpursWatch) March 8, 2023
If I don’t see this within the next 24 hours, I’m cancelling my season ticket…#THFC pic.twitter.com/YLLVB0fytb
— SonsofConte (@SonsofConte) March 8, 2023
I have voted with my feet. For the first time in my life I’ve walked out of a match
I’m not watching that
CONTE OUT— Is He Back Yet? (@SniersMoregut) March 8, 2023
Spurs are now set to go a 15th consecutive season without a trophy, and they find their top four place threatened by the ever-improving Liverpool, as well as Eddie Howe's Newcastle United and the high-flying Brentford.
Conte's dire record of winning just one knockout Champions League tie during his time as manager of Juventus, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Spurs continues. It does not appear as though he will get the opportunity to win one in North London with Spurs next year.
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