'Talent means trouble’ was an old showbiz mantra from the West End and there is no doubt that in Antonio Conte, Tottenham have landed themselves A-list talent. They may have also embroiled themselves in a fair degree of trouble.
But in terms of force of personality, they have employed a winner and a phenomenon. Conte and Nuno Espirito Santo are chalk and cheese, one an extrovert, the other an undemonstrative, quiet coach. Conte split his suit trousers leaping into the fans to celebrate the first goal of his management at Stamford Bridge, once pulled his calf in another celebration and will not let a barbed comment from an opposing manager lie.