Conte: ‘We have to be tactically perfect’

Antonio Conte says Tottenham will have to be disciplined and focused for 90 minutes to have any chance of a result against Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been in scintillating form over the past three months and sit 27 points ahead of Spurs in the table – though Spurs have played three games fewer.

Conte’s side go into the game against the defending Premier League champions having lost their last three league matches, and the Italian boss accepts his team cannot put a foot wrong at the Etihad on Saturday.

At his Friday press conference on TottenhamHotspur.com, Conte was asked if this was a game between two of the best coaches in the world?

He responded: “For sure, it will be an interesting game for us, but I don’t think it’s right to consider it is a special game between the two of the best coaches in the world – it is a game between two teams – perhaps (against) the best team in the world who are in an incredible period of form and almost perfect.

“We have prepared for the game very well, but we know we are going to suffer.

“We know very well that Manchester City will keep the ball for maybe 70 or 80% of the game.

“At the same time, we have to use our 20% to be effective, attack in the right way and when they have the ball, be compact and tactically perfect because if we want to have a good result against Manchester City in this moment, we have to be perfect without the ball and effective when we have it.”