After a match in which Tottenham Hotspur failed to seize any initiative so Antonio Conte attempted to do exactly that in the aftermath of their Carabao Cup exit.
Conte's assistant Cristian Stellini had taken the pre-match press conference at Hotspur Way and was due to do so again after the match at The City Ground. It's a move that is within the competition guidelines and some clubs did not even hold a press conference before the game and were not obliged to afterwards.
However, it was not Stellini who walked into the room after Spurs had fallen well, well short against a bottom of the Premier League Nottingham Forest side that had made nine changes with Saturday's match against Crystal Palace more pressing for their long-term goals. Instead Conte walked into the little press conference room beside the visitors' stadium and he attempted to force the narrative after a dismal cup performance from his team.
