Antonio Conte reaction: Tottenham boss reveals good news and bad on injury front after Champions League ‘disaster’ just averted
Antonio Conte revealed a worrying injury concern going into Saturday’s clash with Everton but was a relieved man as Tottenham held on to beat 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 in the Champions League.
A Son Heung-min brace and Harry Kane’s first Champions League goal in nearly three years helped Spurs take control of Group D but only after a dramatic comeback win at home to a tenacious Frankfurt side.
Tottenham were left stunned when the visitors took a 14th-minute lead through Daichi Kamada but Son’s first-half brace – sandwiched between a Kane spot-kick – ensured Antonio Conte watched his team fight back to taste success for a sixth consecutive time in N17 this season despite Faride Alidou’s late header.
Kane did blaze a second penalty over in stoppage-time and Frankfurt ended with 10-men after Tuta’s red card but Tottenham’s win sent them to the Group D summit and victory over previous leaders Sporting Lisbon in two weeks will put Conte’s men through to the knock-out stage.
Speaking to BT Sport, Conte said: “We scored good goals. We suffered. The team had to try to handle the situation. We had to stay in the game.
“We started in a very difficult way, conceding the first goal and then scored three goals and had big chances. In the end we are leading our group. We have to try to beat Sporting and go to the next round.
“Until the end we have to stay focused. It would have been a disaster if we drew a game like this.”
Richarlison worry but key man set to return
On Harry Kane and Son Heung-min’s partnership, Conte added: “We work a lot during the week to try to have good combination between our strikers.
“Today they showed great link-up. Richarlison played a good game. He had a problem in his knee. I hope it’s nothing serious for Saturday’s game with Everton.
“We should have Kulusevski for that game. He’s an important option for us. He’s vital.”
On their next Champions League game, he said: “Step by step. Next game is Everton. They started not really well but now they’re playing good football. They’re a really good team with a good manager. Tomorrow we rest and then on Friday we prepare the game.”
Can you catch that any sweeter?! 💥
Son Heung-min with an absolute THUNDERBOLT! ⚡️#UCL pic.twitter.com/YJbsfrFHrM
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 12, 2022
Son relieved to get over the line
Two-goal hero Son admitted after the match that he was sweating after a nervy end to the game.
Speaking to BT Sport, the South Korean added: “The last five minutes were really tough. In the Champions League you never know what will happen. It was uncomfortable sitting on the bench and watching. The most important thing was the three points.”
As for yet another link-up with Kane for his first goal, Son said: “We just understand each other really well. I know what he likes to do and he’s the same. The relationship, it’s always hard work and good effort. It’s always been a pay-off for hard work. Many more to come I hope.
“It’s our home and we don’t want to go 1-0 down. A team mistake. In football there’s always mistakes. We bounced back. At half-time 3-1 really good performance and result. In the second half we needed to score more to finish the game.”
On his brilliant second goal, Son added: “When the ball came to me, Pierre saw me before crossing. The ball was just really clear to me and there was only one option to take the volley. I hit it really clean. I was very happy.
“It was a really important win. Positive things but always room for improvement. We have to improve because we have a massive game at the weekend.
“There’s still two games to play. We have to go again. Two tough games, we need to prepare more than the other teams.”
