4 observations from Antonio Conte's first game in charge at Tottenham Hotspur | Premier League 2021-22

#3 Change in approach

Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

It was a little baffling to see Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy appoint Nuno Espirito Santo as the team's manager. That's because he had promising fans all through the summer that he wanted a manager who played attacking football.

Santo may not be as poor as his short stint at Spurs showed. and he may not be as good as his initial spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers promised. But he is not an attacking manager. He is more of a practical manager who can make use of limited resources to exceed expectations.

Tottenham Hotspur were always going to feel short-changed under him. But now with Conte, they have a manager who matches their vision. It is under Conte that Chelsea managed to equal the Premier League record for most consecutive wins. They also recorded home and away wins against 12 teams that season and the second-highest points tally in the league.

It is under Conte that Eden Hazard reached his full potential as a goalscorer. Pedro and Willian were never more threatening than they were under him. Diego Costa scored 20 goals in the Premier League season. Considering all these factors, Tottenham's attackers should benefit immensely from playing under Conte.

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#4 Change in mentality

Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

In football more than any other sport, mentality counts for a lot. The mentality in specific moments gets lumped in with the mentality of the past. Teams earn a reputation for being chokers despite none of their players having played the last time the team choked.

And no team has a bigger history of choking than Tottenham Hotspur when it comes to the Premier League. The London team has spent over 5000 days without a trophy under their belt, which is why they need someone like Conte to end that run.

More than a serial winner, Spurs now have a manager who is not afraid to take on the board and one who won't mince any words. They've got a manager who won't tolerate his players acting like divas. Conte is one who knows what winning feels like, and likes feeling that way.

Players like Harry Kane and Son need just that. They have played for too long without any quantifiable reward for that, and their frustration is starting to show. Maybe when they see their Conte meaning business, they might get a renewed sense of purpose.