SLEEPLESS IN SPURS BATTLE

UNDER-PRESSURE MANAGER CONTE SAYS HE’S GIVING 120 PER CENT’ BUT STILL INSISTS HE COULD WALK AWAY

- Dan Kilpatrick Chief Football Correspondent

ANTONIO CONTE has said he is not sleeping, as he works around the clock to reverse Tottenham’s slump ahead of tonight’s derby against Crystal Palace.

Conte also pleaded with fans for unity, after they jeered his tactical decisions and called for chairman Daniel Levy’s head during Sunday’s defeat by Aston Villa — but reiterated he could walk away from the club if not “100 per cent convinced” by their project.

Spurs dropped out of the top four following the dismal loss against Villa and have won just twice in their past seven matches, conceding first in 10 consecutive games.

In Sunday’s second half, the home support aimed chants of “get out of our club” at Levy, while one of Conte’s substitutions was booed and another drew ironic cheers. The head coach said he understood supporters’ frustrations, but urged them to have patience with the process of building “a foundation” for future success.

Asked his view of the chants against Levy (above), Conte said: “Honestly, I didn’t hear this. But it’s important to stay together. In my life, my family taught me that the truth is always the best solution, even if this is a bad truth. I understand very well that fans want to win, to lift trophies, to be competitive. But to take this step, we need now to create a base, to have patience.