Antonio Conte could change two Tottenham player’s positions immediately after the World Cup break – opinion

Tue 6 December 2022 12:45, UK

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has been able to watch plenty of his stars at the World Cup.

Only Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United provided more players from the Premier League.

Conte would have had plenty to think about after the first-half of the season.

Spurs had their best ever start to a Premier League season, and were keeping up with the league leaders.

However, injuries to key players Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Richarlison hampered their progress.

Conte had to adapt his tactics, and results and performances started to suffer.

They struggled to create chances, and Harry Kane looked particularly isolated without Kulusevski and Richarlison.

Although all three players are now fully fit, the Italian will want to avoid a repeat of those issues.

Conte could take inspiration from what he’s seen at the World Cup, and change two player’s positions.

With England and Brazil still in the tournament, Conte will be closely watching Richarlison and Kane.

He may now decide to play the Brazilian as a number nine and England’s captain as a number ten to get the best out of both players.

Kane and Richarlison have been on fire in Qatar

Leading the line for the Selecao, Richarlison has been absolutely fantastic.

Graeme Souness admitted he looks like a ‘different player’, and he’s already scored two of the best goals of the tournament.

His overhead kick against Serbia was a sight to behold, and he finished off a wonderful passing move against South Korea.

Harry Kane finally got his first goal in Qatar against Senegal on Sunday.

However, Kane is so much more than just a goal scorer, as Tottenham and England fans are all too aware.

Both players’ performance in Qatar could force Conte to change their positions when they return to north London.

The Italian has always preferred his team’s concentrating their attacks out wide, rather than through the middle.

It’s one of the reasons why there’s been so much discussion around who should start at right wing-back.

Ivan Perisic’s arrival on the left has certainly improved things, while Kulusevski is essential to their current tactics on the opposite flank.

If Conte was to change Richarlison and Kane’s positions – to play them as a nine and a 10 – Spurs would suddenly have another point of attack.

The Brazilian’s work-rate makes him a brilliant defensive forward, constantly chasing defenders out of possession.

Playing Kane as a 10 would allow him to roam more freely with Richarlison still playing off the last man.

The issue may arise from where you play Son Heung-min in this system, who is virtually impossible to drop.

However, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are both good enough to play in a two-man midfield.

The change in system would give Tottenham another option, but only time will tell if Conte decides to try it.