Djed Spence felt diminished by Conte's comments

Djed Spence, a player for Tottenham Hotspur, has shared how former coach Antonio Conte affected his confidence after he joined the team in 2022. Shortly after Spence's £20 million move from Middlesbrough, Conte referred to him as an "investment of the club" instead of showing support. This comment deeply impacted Spence, who felt excited after helping his previous team gain promotion. Spence described the moment as feeling like he ran into a brick wall. He said it "shattered" his confidence, especially since he was coming to Tottenham full of hope. He felt uncertain about his performance, saying Conte did not often offer compliments, which made him second-guess himself. During his early time at Spurs, Spence was loaned out twice and struggled to get playing time. When new coach Ange Postecoglou took over, he hoped for a fresh start but did not feel he was given a fair chance. Spence voiced that he didn't perform poorly; he just didn't receive opportunities. However, he has recently started to shine under Postecoglou's guidance. Spence noted that training with Conte was repetitive and less enjoyable. He appreciated that Postecoglou varied the training sessions, making them more engaging. Reflecting on his transition to the Premier League, Spence admitted he was "too humble" and hesitant to show his true self around established stars like Harry Kane and Heung-min Son. Now, Spence believes it's time to take his opportunities. He is determined to express himself and make the most of his chance at Tottenham.