Conte says Brazil star Richarlison is 'selfish' and his season has been 's**t'

Antonio Conte has responded to Richarlison's comments after Tottenham's clash with AC Milan by saying he agrees the Brazilian has been 's**t' this season.  

The Spurs boss did not hold back during Tottenham's press conference on Friday, stating the striker had 'scored no goals' and struggled with various injuries.

He also said it was selfish for Richarlison to put himself above the team and that the Brazilian should be more invested in the squad than his personal situation.

Speaking ahead of their game with Forest, Conte said: "First of all I watched the interview of Richarlison. He didn't criticise me. He said his season was (swears) and he's right." 

"His season has been not good. He had injuries, played and scored in the Champions League and then went to the World Cup and then had a serious injury." 

"He's scored no goals for us. I think he was really honest to say his season was not good. His season has not finished yet. If he deserves to play I'll give him the opportunity."

"For the rest of the interview, I think he made a mistake. When you speak of 'I' and not 'us' you are being selfish. I say to my players if we want to build something important and win a trophy we have to speak with 'we' not with 'I', because otherwise you're thinking of yourself."

"He made a mistake and he apologised and it was good for me to clarify with the team again about this. In this aspect we have to improve. We have to be more of a team and show more spirit positive, especially in negative moments."

"Sometimes it's not enough to be a good guy. You have to to show the right desire and fight to win the game and the duels, to be nasty. I think that sometimes we are a bit soft, but I'm the coach and I'm the first responsible for this to happen and it doesn't happen every time."

"I have to improve the team and I have to improve the spirit of my team. It always happened in the past and I hope it happens here."

Conte's comments came after Richarlison blasted the Tottenham manager for not starting him on Wednesday evening after Spurs limped out of the Champions League with a goalless draw against AC Milan.

In an explosive interview after the game, Richarlison questioned Conte for dropping him to the bench after victories over West Ham and Chelsea. 

Richarlison said: "I didn't understand – I was playing well, we won against Chelsea and West Ham and suddenly I was on the bench. I played five minutes against Wolves, asked the reason and no-one told me why."

"They asked me to take a fitness test in the gym and told me I was going to start if I passed it. And I was on the bench, there are things I can't understand." 

"There was no explanation again, let's see what he (Conte) will tell us but I'm not silly – I'm a professional that works hard every day and I want to play." 

Richarlison came on as a substitute with 20 minutes remaining with Spurs needing a goal to force extra time but was unable to make a difference.

'There hasn't been enough minutes given to me. This season – and forgive my language – has been sh*t,' Richarlison added. 'That's what I didn't understand, too (being a substitute). It was going well, in a good sequence, two wins against West Ham and Chelsea.

'Suddenly, he (Cristian Stellini) put me on the bench, against Wolverhampton he put me on for five minutes. I asked why? They didn't tell me anything.

'And, yesterday, they asked me to take a test at the gym, that if I was good I would go to the game and, at the time of the game, they left me on the bench. These are things that it is not possible to understand.

'Let's see what he (Conte) will say tomorrow, but there are no fools here either, I'm a professional, I work every day and I want to play. There are minutes left, time left.

'I suffered a little with the injury. But, when I enter the field, I give my life. I came from two games well, I think that's it, I think I should have played and I don't have to cry about it.'

Meanwhile, Conte went on to discuss his future at Tottenham, saying: 'Again my future. In this moment, the most important thing is to be focused on the league. 

'You know what is my opinion, what is my desire. I say to you a lot of times that the situation that I have found, and we are far to aspire to be competitive to fight to win. 

'I repeat this for a long time. We need time and patience. I see the environment has no patience or the environment does not want to see the reality. 

'The club knows very well what is my situation and they know what are my thoughts. We can't do miracles. If I am to take the people as a target. I am not this person. The reality is this.

'We'll see what happens in the future. I'm not stupid to kill myself. Until the end though I am ready to die for this club but then we'll see, I'm not too stupid to keep killing myself.'