When did you guys start to believe we had the right man in charge? For me, it was the run of 4 games after the Brentford loss where we won them on the bounce.
What I liked about him then was his pragmatism. Even now, we're not watching an EtH team fully in terms of style. He wants control, high possession stats, complete domination in all of the thirds of the game.
We're not there yet, we were far from there way back in September, yet we beat Liverpool, Arsenal and a couple of tricky away games after that horrendous start.
What I thought then is that we have a guy willing to sacrifice his philosophy to get the best out of what he has at his disposal. Winning footballing games is the number one priority, and he'll find a way to win no matter what.
I guess in a way that sounds like Mourinho, but for me that's where the similarities end. He has earned the respect of the group instead of throwing them under the bus, he has instilled standards and belief instead of talking about the next transfer window, he's working with and improving what he has, not exiling players. The way he handled those opening losses, and the 6-3 humiliation vs City and the reaction to that, it's when I started to really believe.
Our best performance this season was the 2-0 win at home to Spurs. That game was utter domination, and if Rashford was in the form he's in now, that game ends probably 4 or 5 nil. When he gets the players he wants, I think that Spurs game is the benchmark as to what we can expect.
Right now, I think we're slightly overachieving, but he's unlocked the fighting spirit and never say die attitude of this squad. That's carrying us brilliantly through a gruelling season with the spirit and character of born winners like Casemiro, Varane and Martinez. I can't wait to see what we can do with another transfer window and a proper pre-season with a settled squad under our belts.
I remember under Ole (and I'm not using this as an excuse to bash Ole) but we were fighting on all fronts multiple times like this season. I almost wanted us to drop out of the cups because I didn't feel like we'd win them and be able to finish top 4. And that's where the extra games sap the squad completely, when you've given it all to a certain point, and all of a sudden you are out of the cups and facing an uphill battle for CL football.
Now, I want us fighting until the bitter end in every competition because I think we can will all of them. And if you have that belief, and can actually win the competitions, that trumps the demands of the extra games.
How good it feels to be excited once more.
Conte took charge of 2 games in February, 1W and 1L. How is he nominated?
