Mueez Ajao
– Richarlison was “selfish” and “made a mistake” in an interview following Tottenham’s Champions League exit, says manager Antonio Conte.
– The 25-year-old forward appeared to criticise Conte over his lack of playing time this season in an interview with Brazilian TV after Wednesday’s last-16 defeat by AC Milan.
– But while Conte believes Richarlison did not criticise him, he agrees that his season “has been not good”.
Also Read: Richarlison hits out at Conte as Tottenham suffer Champions League exit
– “He is right”, said the Italian.
– “He started well with us, he then had an injury and went to the World Cup and had another serious injury.
– “He’s scored zero goals with us [in the Premier League], only two goals in the Champions League and the guy was really honest to say his season was not good.
– “His season has not finished yet. If he deserves to play I’ll give him the opportunity.”
– Brazil international Richarlison joined Spurs from Everton in a £60m deal last summer but has since started just seven games in the Premier League.
– His playing time in the Premier League this season totals 661 minutes, with his only goals for the club coming against Marseille in the Champions League in September.
– He believed he should have started in Wednesday’s 0-0 draw – which saw Milan progress on aggregate – instead of coming on as a 70th-minute substitute.
– Conte said: “I think [the] guy understood he made a mistake because when you speak with I, I and I, not ‘us’, it means you are thinking only about yourself and you are selfish.
– “I repeat to my players, if we want to build something important, fight for something important, fight to be competitive and win a trophy, we have to speak with ‘we’.
– “If we speak I, I and I, we are only thinking about himself. The guy understood very well and apologised, which is good because I had an opportunity to clarify for another time the spirit of the team.”
