‘He’s a really good player’: Conte says £60,000-a-week Tottenham man has actually been ‘fantastic’ this season

Fri 8 April 2022 6:45, UK

Antonio Conte Ben Davies — Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has heaped praise on Ben Davies for his performances as a central defender this season.

Spurs really struggled to get going under Nuno Espirito Santo. Even though they won each of their first three games of the season, their flaws were overly evident and it was clear to see that he wasn’t the right appointment.

Santo was sacked and in came Conte, who despite a few hiccups and an occasional meltdown or two, has well and truly made Tottenham a better side.

One of the Italian’s success stories is Davies, who has reinvented himself as a centre-half.

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Antonio Conte: Ben Davies has been fantastic for Tottenham this season

Davies started for Tottenham against Newcastle United last weekend and managed to get on the score sheet, his first goal in any competition this season.

Conte was quizzed about him and the Italian is delighted with his defender.

The Tottenham boss told : “Ben is playing a fantastic season, in my opinion. He’s a reliable player, he scored an important goal for us and I think he deserved to score this goal.

“Ben is playing in an important way with us, as a central defender and he’s showing that he’s a really good player.”

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Davies is naturally a left-back and that is arguably his preferred position. However, 27 of his 35 appearances this season have come on the left side of central defence.

To be fair to the Welshman, he has performed really well this season and completely deserves to keep his place in the side ahead of the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Davies this summer. Reports have revealed that Conte is actually trying to bring in an upgrade to the 28-year-old at left centre-back before the start of next season, which casts a shadow over his future at the club.

However, Davies’ versatility and Conte’s trust could prove to be enough to see him stay at the club.