Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has admitted that his side are making "many, many mistakes" after their 4-2 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League.
The Lilywhites ripped up the script in the first half at the Etihad Stadium, storming into a 2-0 lead before the break courtesy of goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal.
Spurs benefited from defensive errors from Pep Guardiola's men in the first half, but City came out all guns blazing in the second half and quickly turned the game on its head.
Mistakes from a number of Spurs players contributed to their second-half downfall, as Riyad Mahrez bagged a brace alongside efforts from Erling Braut Haaland and Julian Alvarez.
Speaking in his post-game press conference, Conte admitted that his side's error count is unacceptable, but he insisted that the finger should be pointed at him rather than his players.
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"We are really disappointed because many times, you have to try to justify the goals that we are conceding. For sure this is a period we are not so lucky because we are making many, many mistakes, many mistakes, but football is this," football.london quotes Conte as saying.
"The mistake first of all is mine because it means that maybe we have to work defensively more to be more compact, like the whole team not only the defenders because when concede a goal it means the whole team not only the defenders, the keeper or a single player."
Ivan Perisic failed to cover himself in glory for City's first three goals, being beaten on the left-hand side by Mahrez on every occasion and losing a key duel to the Algerian prior to his first goal on the night.
Mahrez's effort took a slight deflection off of Ben Davies, but Hugo Lloris - who scored an own goal in the weekend's North London derby - was still beaten at his near post.
A fourth for Man City arrived after Clement Lenglet misjudged a long ball over the top from Ederson, and Mahrez duly ran through to chip Lloris and complete his brace.
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However, Conte - whose future is shrouded in uncertainty ahead of the expiration of his contract in the summer - hinted that he was prepared to stay and help Spurs fix their problems.
"Yeah but I don't like to go about the single player, but for sure when we concede four goals the first person responsible is the coach. Then the players because I don't put the mistakes on my players," the Italian added.
"It's logical if my expectations continues to be the same at Juventus and Inter [Milan], then maybe could be dangerous because my frustration could be big. I want to improve the team and the club with my vision, with my idea, with my suggestions. Then for sure we see.
"I'm totally into the new situation and know that my task is to be part of this process and try to, with a team in transition, to start to become solid and to build a solid foundation and try to build a team ready to fight to win."
Tottenham remain fifth in the Premier League table after Thursday's defeat and are next in action away to London rivals Fulham on Monday.
Ben Knapton
