Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte calls for trust following Richarlison row - 'The coach is not so stupid'

Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte has called for trust in his judgement following a tense period with forward Richarlison. Conte came out firing in his post-match press conference after the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, a result that consolidates their place in the top-four. Ad The Italian stressed that he is “not so stupid” when asked about Richarlison, who launched a scathing attack on his boss after he was benched for the Champions League last-16 exit to AC Milan on Wednesday.

Football‘He didn’t criticise me!’ — Conte responds to Richarlison interviewA DAY AGO Richarlison was handed a start in Saturday’s win, playing all but six minutes of the 90 as fellow strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min registered on the scoresheet, but Conte was keen to remind his forward who was in charge. Richarlison has only scored in one game for Spurs since his £60 million move from Everton last summer. “Don't forget that Richarlison started the season really well and after three [or] four games he started to play regularly,” Conte told reporters.

“He played well but he didn't score, only in the Champions League, but he was many times in the starting line-up. “Then he had a serious injury and the guy was really scared to lose his World Cup place, then he recovered and then he got another serious injury in the World Cup. He came back after the World Cup and then stayed one month to recover and then he struggled a bit.

“He had other problems physically, but I repeat, the coach is not so stupid. All the coaches are not so stupid. They start their best players.