Richarlison criticises Antonio Conte as problems mount for Tottenham Hotspur manager

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Richarlison has added to the problems of manager Antonio Conte by criticising the Italian over his lack of playing time this season.

Spurs meekly exited the Champions League on Wednesday when their last-16 second-leg goalless draw at home to Serie A side AC Milan meant the North London club were knocked out 1-0 on aggregate.

Last Saturday, Conte's side were beaten by a late Adama Traore goal at Wolves which leaves them fourth in the Premier League table, but with Liverpool and Newcastle United breathing down their necks with games in hand.

Spurs were also knocked out of the FA Cup away to second-tier Sheffield United at the fifth-round stage, while Conte himself has only just returned to the Spurs dugout after attempting to come back to soon following surgery to remove his gallbladder last month.

And now Richarlison – who joined Spurs from Everton for £60 million in the summer – has gone public with his frustrations after he was only used as a second-half substitute against Milan, despite Spurs needing to overcome a one-goal deficit from the first leg in Italy.

“I didn't understand … I was playing well, we won against Chelsea and West Ham and suddenly I was on the bench,” said Richarlison to TNT Sports Brazil.

“I played five minutes against Wolves, asked the reason and no one told me why. Yesterday they asked me to take a fitness test in the gym and told me I was going to start today if I passed it.

“And today I was on the bench, there are things I can't understand. There was no explanation again, let's see what he [Conte] will tell us tomorrow but I'm not silly, I'm a professional that works hard every day and I want to play.

“There hasn't been enough minutes given to me, this season – and