Antonio Conte has defended Tottenham's scoring record, insisting the stats show they are better going forward than under Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo, but says he wants more goals from his midfielders and wing-backs.
Spurs face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round at the Riverside Stadium tonight following Saturday's 4-0 demolition of Leeds, their biggest Premier League win of the season.
Conte's side have averaged over 1.8 goals a game, up from 1.1 under Nuno, but they remain reliant on Harry Kane and Heung-min Son for firepower and have struggled against opponents who sit in and deny them space – as Boro will surely attempt this evening.
Conte was pleased to see wing-backs Ryan Sessegnon and Matt Doherty combine to open the scoring at Elland Road and says he is more concerned by his side's defending than scoring record.
"Before the game against Burnley, with [managing director Fabio] Paratici we read the stats from the day I arrived in Tottenham [compared] to the past few years. Our stats are very good," Conte told Standard Sport. "Offensively we improved a lot and we're very effective when we attack. We're scoring more goals.
"In my opinion, we have to try to concede less goals, especially at set-pieces. If you want to have a successful season, you have to try to find a good balance. Manchester City score a lot of goals but at the same time they have the best defence, with only 17 goals conceded – because before playing us, they'd conceded only 14 goals!
"To create offensive situations is good for our strikers: Harry, Sonny, Lucas Moura, Dejan Kulusevski and Steven Bergwijn.
"But my expectation is also to see the midfielders and the wing-backs score. Finally [at Leeds], I have seen the first time that one wing-back crossed for the other wing-back to finish."
Since Conte's appointment, Kane has reestablished himself as both Spurs' biggest goal threat and most creative player, and the head coach has little choice but to start the England captain again on Teeside.
As reported by Standard Sport earlier this month, winning the FA Cup could genuinely be a factor in whether Kane decides to push to leave his boyhood club again in the summer.
Conte says Kane is two players in one, and believes his versatility makes him among the best strikers in the world.
"For me, the No9 is the most important player in my team. They are the point of reference in every situation we develop from the back," Conte said.
"We have a No9 with two No10s. In the past, I have had two No9s. I'm lucky to have a player like Harry, because Harry is not only a No9 – he can become also a No10 at the same time. The assist for Sonny [against Leeds] was amazing, it was incredible.
"He's becoming a total player, a complete player. To be a No9 and No10 at the same moment, it means you're really, really one of the best strikers in the world."
Conte also thanked the Spurs fans, who regular sing his name, and says he wants to repay their faith by making them proud of the team.
"I want to say thanks to the fans because I think that I don’t deserve as only four months to have this, they chant for me. For me this is incredible," he said.
"The only way that I know to repay is effort and try to make our fans proud of our team and Tottenham. This is the best way to repay them."
Spurs remain without injured quartet Oliver Skipp, Rodrigo Bentancur, Japhet Tanganga and Lucas Moura tonight.
