<\/p>\n
Tottenham coach Antonio Conte is unhappy to be playing so soon after the World Cup and he has hinted at his team selection for the game against Brentford.<\/p>\n
The Premier League returns on Boxing Day even though it is only a week since Tottenham duo Hugo Lloris and Cristian Romero battled it out in the World Cup final.<\/p>\n
Conte has confirmed that Lloris and Romero will not play on Monday and he has a decision to make over Ivan Perisic, Harry Kane and Eric Dier.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a strange situation and honestly to play so quickly \u2013 only one week after the World Cup \u2013 I am not really happy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn one hand, you are happy because for my club, Tottenham, to have 12 players at the World Cup it means that we are in the right way to try to be competitive and to try in the future to win something.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it is normal that when you have so many players play a tournament like this, especially during the season, that now it is not easy because the physical condition is not at the top.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is impossible to give them a lot of rest and for sure with the players that didn\u2019t play the World Cup and we work for four weeks, now they are in a great physical condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work a lot on the tactical aspect and physical aspect. Now they are at a level that is better than the players who finished the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor this reason, I think I have to make the best decision for the game against Brentford. On one side I have players who I worked with for four weeks really well and on the other side, I have players who worked at the World Cup and are not at the top at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Romero is definitely out of Monday\u2019s lunchtime kick-off and Lloris will start on the bench, Conte revealed on Friday.<\/p>\n
Rodrigo Bentancur will also miss out due to suspension but has also been nursing a minor hamstring issue. The same injury will sideline Richarlison for a month and Lucas Moura\u2019s problem with his tendon continues.<\/p>\n
Conte said of Moura: \u201cHe is struggling a lot to find a solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor sure it\u2019s a difficult situation, because I have a good player in my squad, but he\u2019s never available. It\u2019s like you don\u2019t have him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pity because we are talking about a good player, a good guy, but he is struggling a lot to solve this problem. I don\u2019t know what in the future happens about him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The absence of Moura, who has only started twice this season, could force Spurs into action in the January transfer window, but Conte admitted with a tinge of resignation that the only signings he expected would be young players in line with the club\u2019s policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do I want the club to do? I think it\u2019s not right to say this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can give advice to my club, the way to try to improve the team and to improve the quality in the squad, especially because after five months the situation has changed from the start of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is the opportunity to strengthen the squad, we will do something. You know which is our policy, you know very well which is our policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will try to follow this policy and to improve the team. If there is the possibility to strengthen the squad, we will do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOtherwise, we will continue with these players and I am happy with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pressed on Tottenham\u2019s \u201cpolicy\u201d, he added: \u201cAbout the signing, signing players and about young players, about players with not big salaries and this.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to sign players that can stay in our vision, in the vision of the club.\u201d<\/p>\n