“I understand that there was a wait until the last moment”
Antonio Conte reportedly ‘waited until the last minute’ to accept the vacant manager’s job at Tottenham as he wanted to see if Manchester United would be sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The former Chelsea boss was named Spurs’ new manager earlier this week, joining the club on a 18-month contract.
The Italian had been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford with Red Devils boss Solskjaer under serious pressure after enduring a difficult start to the season.
United have lost four of their opening 11 Premier League fixtures this campaign, including a disappointing derby defeat to rivals Manchester City on Saturday and a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Liverpool in October.
Another drubbing for @ManUtd. They could always have a go for Conte…oh hang on a minute.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 6, 2021
Despite speculation around his future, Solskjaer held onto his job, with Conte opting to replace Nuno Espirito Santo at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having left Inter Milan at the end of last season.
However, reports in Italy have claimed that the Premier League winner was on standby as he waited to replace the current United boss.
Journalist Roberto Gotta told Tuttomercatoweb: “I understand that there was a wait until the last moment.
“Manchester United have a better squad and more decisive players.
“However, Manchester United have never publicly lacked confidence in Solskjaer. Perhaps even to reassure him…
“Conte in Manchester should have won immediately, while in Tottenham, he should have prepared the team for next season.
“I think he did the right thing, or else he risked not doing half of it.”
Conte made a winning start to life as Spurs manager in midweek with a thrilling 3-2 win against Vitesse in the Europa Conference League.
Related links:
- Roy Keane goes to town on Man United players after Man City defeat
- Bruno Fernandes admits that Man Utd ‘are not at the same level’ as Man City
- Gary Neville tears apart ‘flakey’ Man United after Manchester derby humbling
