 Incredibly, Conte has never got past the quarter-finals in this competition and has gone out at the Group stage in three of his five campaigns. That is freakishly bad for a coach who prides himself on preparation, tactics and success. The Italian dare not fail in his sixth season in the Champions League - and it would again raise serious doubts over his long-term future. Conte's current £13m-a-year contract expires at the end of the season, there is an option to extend which is automatically activated on his side if they qualify for the Champions League. But there is also a will on){kind=link}
Antonio Conte is banned from the touchline for Tottenham’s nervy Champions League decider against French side Marseille – with the loser going out of the competition
One year into his reign at Tottenham, Antonio Conte will face a moment of truth in the Stade Velodrome.
And Conte’s torturous night could be even more painful as he is forced to watch from the stands because of his one-game touchline ban. Conte knows another early exit from the Champions League will be viewed as failure from a manager regarded as a serial winner.
Tottenham boss Conte took over at White Hart Lane 12 months ago this week and has undoubtedly rejuvenated the club on several levels. Conte got Tottenham back into the top four, has got the players fitter and stronger from Nuno Espirito Santo’s disastrously short reign.
But the question marks remain over Conte when it comes to his style of play because it is functional and workmanlike rather than spectacular which is what the Spurs fans crave.