Antonio Conte names ‘two key’ areas to hit Manchester City and grab a win ahead of visit to Etihad

Antonio Conte has a plan to get Tottenham a win against Manchester City but first they must suffer as a team.
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Tottenham manager Conte is hoping to stop the rot in his team and return to winning ways when they travel to the Etihad to face an in-form Manchester City this weekend.

Spurs have fallen apart in the league in the last three games, losing to Chelsea, Southampton and Wolves and are now eight points behind fourth placed Manchester United.

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The last time Antonio Conte lost three league games on the spin was back in 2009 and you’d have to go back to his playing days days to find the last time he lost four league games on the bounce.

The visit to Manchester City will however test that record with Pep Guardiola’s side unbeaten in the league since October 2021.

Guardiola has settled on a winning system in Manchester and has won 14 of the last 15 league games with the only draw coming against a resolute Southampton side at the St Mary’s.

Shane Long of Southampton battles for possession with Eric Dier (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Shane Long of Southampton battles for possession with Eric Dier (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Shane Long of Southampton battles for possession with Eric Dier (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

They brushed aside Sporting Lisbon in their Champions League round of 16 game and have now turned attention to the all-important league game against Antonio’s wobbling Spurs.

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Despite everything pointing to a win for the hosts, Spurs manager Antonio Conte says there is a way to beat the Champions but his team must be willing to suffer together.

The former Inter Milan man said ahead of the visit to City : “For sure, it’ll be an interesting game for us. But I don’t think that it’s right to consider it a special game because there are the best coaches in the world [in the dugouts].

“It’s a game between two teams, one team that’s maybe the best in the world and almost perfect. They’re in a fantastic period of form. That’s one side.

“On the other side is a team trying to build something important for the future. At this moment, two different levels. At the same time, we prepared the game very well.

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“We know that tomorrow we’re going to suffer. We know very well that problem tomorrow, like in every game, Manchester City will keep the ball for 70-80 percent.

“But at the same time in the other 20 percent we have to be good, be effective, attack in the right way And when they have the ball, be compact and tactically perfect.

“If you want a good result against Manchester City at the moment, you have to be perfect at the moment. You have to know you have to suffer as a team, to find the situations to try to hurt them.”

Tottenham beat City in the first leg of this encounter in North London but the both teams have almost gone in opposite directions since with City boasting the best home record this season, winning 10 of the 12 league games they have played at the Etihad.

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You will have to go back to February 2016 to find the last time Tottenham beat Manchester City in Manchester.

There is good news though for Spurs with Antonio Conte confirming defender Eric Dier who has played just two league games this year is back in contention after struggling with muscle issues.

The Italian manager revealed the medical team worked hard to also to recover Steven Bergwijn who was a huge doubt for the game.

He added: “I like when we can speak about football and not other situations! Dier is available, fit and OK. Skipp’s working, getting better but he’s not ready.“

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“Tanganga is the same. We have recovered Steven Bergwijn because three days ago he had a little problem in his calf but now he’s available. So only two players are not available for the game against City.”