Antonio Conte has been reluctant to use Welsh international Joe Rodon, despite Spurs’ poor defensive displays this season.
Indeed, it was reported by Football.London that senior Spurs players behind the scenes had been urging Conte to give the central defender a starting spot at the club.
And Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has told GiveMeSport that Conte isn’t Rodon’s ‘biggest fan’, with the Welshman having not featured in the Spurs side of late despite the club’s poor form.
Bridge mentioned: “It says to me that maybe Conte isn’t his biggest fan. Whereas for Wales, he’s been versatile, playing left-side and right-side.”
Rodon was signed in 2020 from Swansea City and showed promising signs early on, but hasn’t been given a real chance under Italian boss Conte, having played just once in the Premier League this campaign for Spurs – before the Italian’s arrival.
TIF Thoughts on Conte’s lack of trust in Welsh defender Joe Rodon…
Conte was brought in by Spurs with the primary aim of stabilising the defence and has done so to some extent. Former Spurs player William Gallas has handed praise towards Conte after improving the backline.
Although Conte has improved the Spurs defence, there have been times where they have leaked goals, and this has been largely down to Davinson Sanchez’s poor vein of form as he has made costly mistakes. Meanwhile, Conte has admitted that he made a mistake by not starting Rodon against Wolves after they beat his side 2-0 on Sunday.
Rodon has been praised whilst playing for Wales, which may seem peculiar as to why he hasn’t been given as much of a chance at club level. Jose Mourinho also lavished praise on the defender back in 2020, as he labelled the central defender as ‘perfect‘.
However, after Conte’s recent remarks, we could see an increase in Rodon’s game time in the Spurs backline.