Antonio Conte swipes back at Pep Guardiola for 'counter-attack' dig

Antonio Conte has hit back on social media over Pep Guardiola's suggestion that his team beat them on Saturday by defending deeply and playing counter-attacking football.

Tottenham Hotspur triumphed 3-2 with a Harry Kane winner in added time at the Etihad Stadium and, having seen his team suffer only their third league defeat of the season, Guardiola highlighted Spurs’ tactics.

“After going behind, they defended so deep and so compact – it was incredible,” said Guardiola. “They don't lose the ball with Harry Kane and can run as well with Son [Heung-min] and [Dejan] Kulusevski. They played the way I expected them to play. They were good in the build-up and created a lot of space to run on the counter-attack.”

Conte, though, evidently did not share Guardiola’s assessment of his team’s gameplan.

He shared clips of all three goals on his Instagram page with the caption: 'Counter-attacks?!? Maybe not…' and then added three emojis of a face crying with laughter.

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Kulusevski had put Tottenham into the lead after just four minutes following a move which started with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’s short pass from the back and then a brilliant move through the City team. Ilkay Gundogan then equalised before Kane then restored Tottenham’s lead following another move which had begun inside his team’s penalty area with the City team seemingly well set up in front of them. Riyad Mahrez then again equalised before Kane scored a headed winner at the end of another outstanding passage of play.

“We created a lot of chances,” said Guardiola. “I can't say anything wrong about the team because we were there all the time. But it was difficult. Everyone knows what Kane gives.”

City had wanted to buy Kane last summer. The