Former Spurs full-back Matt Doherty has opened up about the brutal pre-season training sessions Antonio Conte used to run at the club.
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Doherty reflects on Conte's reignDescribes pre-season sessions as 'crazy'Full-back preparing for new Wolves campaignWHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking to during a press visit to his current club Wolverhampton Wanderers' pre-season training camp in Florida, Doherty spoke about Conte's pre-season training methods during his time at Spurs. According to the Irish full-back, his old boss was a lover of traditional, hard running-orientated sessions that left Doherty and his fellow players in a sorry state. He described the summer of 2022, in which Conte put him through his paces at Spurs, as "the hardest pre-season I did. Ever".
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Generally speaking, Conte's approach to coaching players tends to get results. However, that certainly wasn't the case at Tottenham. The Italian coach struggled to make a positive impact in north London and ended up leaving after a dire run of form and a string of explosive press conferences and disputes with players during the 2022-23 season. His long-term replacement Ange Postecoglou has been a breath of fresh air so far, although a video posted on social media recently shows that 'Big Ange' doesn't go easy on his players during pre-season either.
WHAT DOHERTY SAID
Doherty said: “We were throwing up out of both ends by the time we had finished. That was the hardest pre-season I did. Ever. That was crazy. But we hung off every word that he said and rightly so. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR DOHERTY & WOLVES?
At 32, Doherty is one of the most experienced players in Gary O'Neil's Wolves squad, and the promising English coach will be looking to him to help lead the dressing room ahead of the 2024-25. The Midlands side has a tough start to the season, facing last year's runners-up Arsenal at the Emirates in the opening game of the new campaign on August 17.