ntonio Conte performed down the importance of the FA Cup forward of Saturday’s assembly in opposition to Portsmouth, however the Tottenham boss might discover the competitors involves look more and more interesting.
A 1-0 win over the League One aspect, sealed by Harry Kane’s aim, arrange a fourth-round tie in opposition to Championship membership Preston on the finish of this month.
A go to to Deepdale will likely be no gimme for Spurs, who have been knocked out final yr by second-tier Middlesbrough, however see off one other Soccer League opponent and Conte’s aspect needs to be well-placed for a correct Cup run.
Chelsea are out, thrashed 4-0 by Manchester Metropolis on Sunday evening, and one in all Pep Guardiola’s aspect and table-topping Arsenal will likely be eradicated after their fourth-round tie, assuming the Gunners beat League One Oxford on Monday.
Liverpool face a tough third-round replay at Wolves, the winner of which is able to play Brighton, whereas Newcastle, Everton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Brentford have additionally been eradicated.
The draw ought to give Spurs confidence, however they haven’t reached an FA Cup Last since profitable the competitors in 1991, dropping eight semi-finals alongside the way in which.
Match-winner: Harry Kane’s aim noticed off Portsmouth with Tottenham eager on a deep FA Cup run
/ REUTERSConte, although, led Chelsea to back-to-back finals, profitable the second go to in 2018, and for all his grumbling, has a squad able to beating anybody on their day.
The Italian final week described the Premier League and Champions League because the “best targets”, however has acknowledged that profitable both competitors isn’t at the moment a part of his “challenge” at Spurs, elevating the likelihood that he might come to prioritise the FA Cup.
Successful the competitors would additional endear Conte to supporters, strengthening his hand in his infinite cat-and-mouse negotiations with the membership, and probably sate Kane’s need for silverware, with the striker’s contract additionally an growing precedence.
Conte is confronted with balancing the necessity for a top-four end, which feels important to Spurs’s marketing strategy and talent to proceed to compete within the switch market, with followers’ desperation to finish a 15-year await a trophy.
Successful the FA Cup would additional endear Conte to supporters, strengthening his hand and probably sate Kane’s need for silverware
One optimistic is an easing damage checklist, with Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison all hoping to be in competition to face Arsenal on Sunday, and a new-found confidence in his younger gamers.
Bryan Gil appeared to don’t have any future at Spurs a yr in the past, however accidents have pressured Conte’s hand. After being concerned in three of Spurs’s 4 targets in opposition to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, Gil began a 3rd straight recreation in opposition to Pompey and caught the attention with one other vigorous efficiency.
Conte’s issues over Gil will not be in his technical high quality however physique, and the Spain worldwide, 21, has acknowledged that he nonetheless has work to do on bulking up however says he has “changed everything” about his conditioning in a bid to win over his supervisor.
Gil will likely be in competition to start out in opposition to Arsenal if Kulusevski or Richarlison don’t recuperate totally in time. Pape Matar Sarr additionally held his personal in his first Spurs begin on Saturday, whereas Oliver Skipp accomplished his first 90 minutes of the season.
With Conte extra prepared to belief his kids, his squad doesn’t seem as skinny as he has recommended, elevating the possibilities of Spurs having the ability to compete on multiple entrance.
