27 March 2023 , 18:46
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Gary Neville was hammered by his fellow pundits when he advised Manchester United to avoid hiring Antonio Conte... but the legendary defender has been proved spot on.
Tottenham parted company with Conte on Sunday night after another season without silverware, with the London club's most recent trophy coming in 2008. The Italian lasted just 16 months in the job and called his players "selfish" in an ugly final press conference.
Several pundits criticised United for failing to appoint Conte in November 2021, when Tottenham gave the former Chelsea boss a job. The Red Devils decided to wait until the end of the season to lure Erik ten Hag from Ajax, a decision which has been vindicated.
Ten Hag is on course to lead United back into the Champions League after winning the Carabao Cup final at Wembley last month - the club's first trophy in six years. The Red Devils also have a great chance of winning the FA Cup and Europa League this season.
Yet in August, the situation looked completely different. Ten Hag's side were thumped 4-0 at Brentford that month, while Spurs were making a superb start to the season. Conte's team won five of their first seven Premier League games during an unbeaten run.
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Conte's stock was high at the time after securing Champions League qualification the previous term and signing the likes of Ivan Perisic, Richarlison and Yves Bissouma during the summer transfer window. Many pundits expected Tottenham to finish above Arsenal.
Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville clashed over Manchester United in August (Sky Sports)Do you think Manchester United were right to avoid appointing Antonio Conte in 2021? Let us know in the comments below!
Yet Neville always insisted Conte was the wrong man for United - even when everyone was singing the Italian's praises. Shortly after Conte's arrival at Spurs in November 2021, Neville told Sky Sports, "I don’t think Antonio Conte would have been a fit for Man Utd."
Neville reiterated his stance in May 2022 after Jamie Redknapp asked him, "When you look at him [Conte] now, surely you must realise he would have been good for Man Utd?"
Neville replied, "It is possible to think that he's a great coach, but he doesn't suit your club and that's it. For me, he does two years at clubs and I don't think he's right for Man Utd. But for other clubs, fine. To be fair, he's done a good job."
The debate came up again after United's humiliating defeat to Brentford. That game is remembered for a heated post-match row between Neville and Jamie Redknapp, who insisted United's unpopular owners - the Glazers - could not be blamed for the loss.
Redknapp argued, "You can't get blaming the owners when the players are putting in performances like that. Let me ask you a question. We didn't win the league for 30 years at Liverpool right. Look at me when I'm talking to you. They have to take responsibility, when you're a player you don't think, 'I wonder what Joel Glazer is doing tomorrow?'"
Neville insisted the owners are to blame when a business is "failing" before Redknapp argued, "He [Tottenham chair Daniel Levy] has got it right - you know why. He's done what you [United] should've done and got Antonio Conte in, but you didn't want to touch him. He would've come here and got those players in better shape than what they are."
Yet Neville was not for turning and has now been vindicated. As for Tottenham, Levy must return to the drawing board to find the manager who will finally end their trophy drought.