Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has expressed his doubts about the future of current manager Antonio Conte at the club beyond this season.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast (via HITC) , Sherwood explained that he doesn’t think Conte will remain at Tottenham, even if the team were to achieve significant success in the current season.
When asked if he thought Conte would stay at Tottenham, Sherwood said:
“No. No, I really don’t. If they win the Champions League, which is obviously a long shot. If they finish in the top 4, which is once again an incredible achievement last year and there’s a few dropped away.”
Sherwood acknowledged that Conte has done an excellent job in taking Tottenham to their current position in the Premier League table, currently sitting in fifth place, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
However, he doesn’t think that Tottenham’s potential success in the FA Cup or the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League will be enough to convince Conte to stay at the club.
He added:
“He’s done a brilliant job to take them where they are. Forget what’s done in the past, they’re 5th in the league now. They’re chasing 4th, good chance they can get there. The FA Cup is wide open, there’s a lot of teams now that can possibly win that. And for a team like Tottenham who haven’t won that [in years], that’ll be a huge success.”
“So, no, I don’t think he’ll be there!”
While Conte’s contract with Tottenham is set to expire in the summer, there have been no reports of a contract extension.
Instead, recent reports suggest that former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is one of the favorites to return to the club and replace Conte next season.
Pochettino enjoyed a successful tenure at Tottenham, leading the team to consistent top-four finishes and a memorable Champions League final appearance in the 2018/2019 season.
Other managers have also been linked to the Tottenham job, including Brighton & Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi, Maurizio Sarri and Thomas Tuchel.
However, it remains to be seen whether Conte stays or goes and if he goes, who will ultimately take over the reins at Tottenham Hotspur next season.
