Conte insists he 'does NOT regret' rant calling out Tottenham players' mentality

Antonio Conte has admitted he has no regrets about blasting Tottenham players in his infamous rant that eventually led to the Italian leaving the club last year.

Rewind nearly 12 months and Conte was fuming after his Spurs side blew a two-goal lead against St Mary's and draw 3-3 with Southampton who would go on to be relegated to the Championship.

The former Premier League-winning-manager with Chelsea was on thin ice amidst tensions within the Spurs camp leading up to the game. The ice then cracked after his post-match rant with Conte quickly leaving the club.

His outspoken honesty to the media was heavily criticised at the time as Conte called out 'selfish players' and insisted the club's long-running lack of silverware was because of Tottenham's mentality.

Now, currently without a management job and spending his time relaxing in his homeland of Italy, Conte has looked back at his comments on that fateful day on the English south coast with The Telegraph.

'At that moment, my feeling was that. If I tell something, it means there is always something true,' he admitted.

'No, honestly, I don't regret anything about this. But I have good feelings about Tottenham. I keep this experience in my heart.'

'I am this way. I hate the lies. This can help me sometimes or sometimes can hurt me. But I prefer to stay in silence than to tell a good lie - also the relationship with my players,' he added.

'During the season, it can happen that you need an honest conversation that can be positive or negative. I know very well, I was a player as well and some coaches told me good lies to keep me calm. I don't want this type of situation.

'I know very well when you have these honest conversations with the players, in the first moment they can be a