Djed Spence has recently opened up about his struggles during his time under former Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte, revealing that his confidence took a major hit during that period.
The 24-year-old full-back, who has stepped up this season despite being deployed out of position at left-back due to injuries, reflected on his difficulties working with Conte.
After joining Spurs from Nottingham Forest following their promotion to the Premier League, Spence arrived with high expectations.
However, he soon found himself frustrated by a lack of playing time, describing the experience as like hitting a “brick wall.”
Spence shared that no matter how hard he worked, he felt he was never able to meet Conte’s expectations.
He noted that he barely had any discussions with the Italian coach and struggled to feel like he was being given a fair opportunity to prove himself. He added that Conte’s comments about him being a club signing rather than the manager’s preference shattered his confidence.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents Podcast, Spence said:
“It wasn’t a nice feeling. Especially as I was coming to the club on a high, I was confident, I was buzzing, had just won promotion. Then it was like running into a brick wall. It shattered my confidence a bit, obviously, I’m young. It’s not nice to hear.
“I knew it was rubbish at the time. It wasn’t a nice feeling. I was even going into the club like [puffs out cheeks] and, ‘What am I doing?’ I feel like whatever I did, that man [Conte] wasn’t happy about anything. Even if you did the right things, you were like, ‘Did I do the right thing?’ Cos he’s not really a complimenting guy. It gets to a point where you don’t really need validation from a coach. You just go, ‘Oh’. I probably had one conversation with him.”
Spence has turned his career around at Tottenham
Despite the setbacks, Spence has managed to revive his Tottenham career under Ange Postecoglou. He has forced the manager to reconsider his stance on him, who has been so impressed that there are suggestions that the player will be offered a new long-term contract.
After loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United, and Genoa, he returned to North London and has become an important part of the squad.
Injuries to key defenders provided him with a chance to establish himself, and he has made the most of it, delivering consistent performances and even scoring his first Premier League goal in a 4–1 win over Ipswich Town last month.
Since rejoining the squad, Spence has featured in 24 games across all competitions, registering two goals and two assists.
His impressive form has sparked discussions about a potential contract extension, as Tottenham now see him as a valuable asset moving forward.
While his time under Conte was frustrating, Spence has finally found his rhythm at Spurs.
