Antonio Conte blasts decision to play Carabao Cup ties just days after World Cup final

Antonio Conte has blasted English football’s unilateral decision to squeeze a round of Carabao Cup ties between the World Cup final on December 18 and the return of Premier League football on Boxing Day.

‘We knew it was crazy to put the World Cup during the league season, this schedule is crazy,’ said Spurs boss Conte. ‘Also, it’s really strange that in England we start to play three days after the final of the World Cup.

‘We are the only country to do it. Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, they are all taking time to give rest and breathe a bit.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte blasts ‘crazy’ decision to squeeze in Carabao Cup ties

‘Instead, I find it crazy that on December 21, three days after final of World Cup final, we are going to play a game in the Carabao Cup. 

‘I find this crazy. Then after another three days, play in the Premier League. The show must go on, this is the truth.’

The fourth round of the Carabao Cup will be the first domestic fixtures for top-flight clubs in England after the World Cup. 

The fourth round of the Carabao Cup will be the first domestic fixtures after the World Cup

The third round is next week and Tottenham are at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday as they attempt to reach the last 16.

England’s football authorities would stress that most of the European leagues have a winter break to coincide with Christmas whereas, here, they have had to cram all the usual fixtures into a season with six weeks taken out to accommodate FIFA’s decision to play the World Cup in Qatar and then move it to November. 

Conte also defended his Argentina defender Cristian Romero against accusations that he is out injured at the moment because he is protecting his fitness in order to be in good shape for the World Cup.

‘I can tell you that for him if he has the possibility to play with one leg he wants to play with one leg,’ said Conte. ‘We have players really committed for the club. Maybe Romero had an injury because he wanted to take a risk and then he had this injury.

Conte also defended Cristian Romero against accusations he is protecting himself for Qatar

‘Many teams are having big injuries and this is because we are playing every three days and we are seeing this situation is impossible.

‘I don’t like it if the fans thinks some players try to protect themselves for the World Cup because it’s not true, at least for my players. I see them every day, and I see Richarlison’s desire to come back and help us.

‘Only 10 days to the World Cup and he wants to come back and help us.’

Richarlison has been out with a calf injury for three weeks and will not be available to face Liverpool on Sunday. 

Richarlison has been out with a calf injury and will not be available to face Liverpool on Sunday

Romero is unlikely to play for Spurs before the World Cup because of calf and thigh problems.

Son Heung-min has undergone surgery on a cheekbone fracture. Dejan Kulusevski only returned to the first team training group on Friday. Lucas Moura is playing through pain of an achilles heel injury.

‘We need to face this situation,’ said Conte. ‘We need to try to finish these three games in best possible way.’