Glenn Hoddle is hoping that Antonio Conte's Tottenham future can be decided one way or another after their Champions League Round of 16 tie against AC Milan. Appointed as Nuno Espirito Santo's replacement in November 2021, the Italian's future has continued to be a big talking point ever since he arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Yet to commit to the club beyond the end of the current campaign, all connected with Spurs face a nervy wait over the 53-year-old's final decision. Admitting to football.london that the Champions League could have a big say on whether Conte is still Tottenham boss come August, Hoddle feels the club need to know sooner rather than later so they can get their plans in place for the 2023/24 season.
"I think it [Champions League] has got a big say," Hoddle told football.london in an exclusive interview. "It's very difficult and I'd like Antonio for Tottenham's sake to plan to come out as it's very difficult to plan as a club. Players will get on with whatever game or whatever team is picked for any weekend so that will happen, but for planning he needs to understand that the club need to know where they are going.
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"I don't think it will be right even if he says right I'm going at the end of the season. I think they should stay with Conte until the end of the season but at least they know, the players know and the people know. I think there comes a time in this period where perhaps you get the Milan game out of the way and then settle down and say we're in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and we need to know X, Y and Z here and get some clarity.
"That's what managers want as when they come to a new club they say they need time, need a plan. The club is the same. They need a plan and something to go on. They need information to then go and get what you want to get.
"Hopefully if they get through Milan they can sit down and hopefully, for me, I think Conte should sign. I'd love him to sign and I think there's a good chance Harry Kane would sign then and there's more chance of success around the corner over the next few years. I think there's a lot of plusses if he signs.
"If he doesn't want to sign he will give his reasons why and they may be personal reasons or it may be the club or lack of funds. Only Antonio will know that. There comes a time where the club need to know, the fans need to know and everyone needs to know."
Topping Champions League Group D, Spurs will now go head-to-head with Italian giants AC Milan for a place in the final eight of the competition. Tottenham come into the game on the back of a 4-1 defeat at Leicester City after previously building some real momentum with three straight wins, while AC have only won one of their last eight games in all competitions.
A chance for both to regain some confidence and potentially go far in the Champions League, Hoddle believes that it will be Spurs who progress following the conclusion of both Round of 16 ties.
"I think Spurs will get through this tie over the two legs," admitted Hoddle. "Where they get to depends on whether they get a decent draw, if they get through they need another good draw. If they come up against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or someone like that that could be a big obstacle. If they played against the other English teams, they know each other and anything could happen there. I think they need a preferable draw if they can get through against Milan, but I think they will go through against Milan.
"Milan are a good side but they are not like they were of yesteryear. It's important Spurs get across there and don't get heavily beaten, if they get a draw or a sensible result then bring them back home. They haven't been great at home in their new stadium in Europe in the group stages, but I think now the tournament really starts.
"I think the second leg of any tie is the key. It is a real cup game whatever the scoreline is as each team will know what they have to do. I think it will be a different scenario for Tottenham, and most teams, in the second leg as I feel knockout football becomes the real crux of the knockout round. If they are 2-0 down then they have to go for it at one stage whatever that team is. That will bring the best out of Tottenham knowing what they have to do in that last tie."
Key to Tottenham getting the better of AC Milan will be achieving a good result away from home, which in turn will put them in a good position for the return leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"If they had won the derby match at the San Siro that would have been the key as it would have given them some big momentum," said the club legend on AC Milan. "You've got to wonder that they might have a little bite at you like an animal that hasn't been so well and it suddenly might just turn on you.
"They've got to be vigilant, they've got to get themselves professional and be right there and come away with a sensible result. I think they will have enough over the two legs."
BT Sport is the exclusive home of the UEFA Champions League. Watch AC Milan v Spurs exclusively live on BT Sport 1 on Tuesday 14th February from 7pm. For more info, visit btsport.com
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