(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur must prove they belong in Europe's elite side after a late loss to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, manager Antonio Conte said on Thursday. Read the full story
(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur must show they belong in Europe's elite side after a belated defeat to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, manager Antonio Conte said on Thursday. Spurs, who played in the Europa Conference League last season, conceded two late goals in a 0-2 loss to the Portuguese on Tuesday. "I think we must be disappointed because the final result was negative. I watched the game again and I think we lost a big chance," Conte told reporters ahead of the Premier League clash. their home game against Leicester City on Saturday. "It means we have to do more in the future because we are in the Champions League. We have taken a very important step (by qualifying) but now we have to show that we can. I deserve to stay there." Asked if he would drop struggling striker Son Heung-min against Leicester, Conte said no player was "insurmountable". The Korean, a key part of Spurs' attack in recent years, is yet to score in any league this season. "No player is invincible. That has to be clear. If I say it's just to help my players and avoid injuries, to try to have players in good form. You know you can play well one game, another way and another step," added Conte. He also expressed his delight at defender Eric Dier, who has been called up by England for the match against Germany and Italy at the end of this month. I'm really happy because when the national team calls my players ... it means we are working very well," Conte said. "In this case with Eric, it's a very good achievement for him. I can only tell him it has to be the starting point." Spurs are third on the table with 1
points from six games. Leicester are lowest with only one point. (Reporting by Dhruv Munjal in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
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