Conte admits Tottenham summer signing is ‘struggling’ with ‘tactical aspect’ of his game

Antonio Conte has conceded that Tottenham Hotspur summer signing Yves Bissouma is “struggling” with the “tactical aspect” of his game.

The Italian was backed during the summer transfer window as Spurs spent around £150m on new signings.

Bissouma was one of their marquee additions as around £25m was spent to bring him in from Brighton.

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The Mali international has barely featured for Tottenham at the start of this term. His only start in the Premier League came as the London club drew 1-1 against West Ham.

Aside from that, Bissouma has been restricted to substitute appearances. He did not get on the pitch at all in midweek as Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Sporting Lisbon. 

Spurs are back in action this weekend as they face Leicester City in the Premier League. Ahead of this game, Conte has discussed why Matt Doherty, Oliver Skipp and Bissouma have not featured much so far this campaign:

“I can explain because I like to be honest, not only with you but first of all my players,” Conte told reporters (via Football London).

“In this first part of seven games, don’t forget we had players like Matt [Doherty] that had serious injury and I said in the past he is struggling a bit to come back as the player I knew last season.

“For sure now he is improving a lot and for now it is the international break, he will have two games with the national team and he will come back and I will have the possibility to have another player with rotation.

“It is the same with Skippy [Oliver Skipp] because, in this period, Skippy had a serious injury. He played his last game in January, maybe December.

“Then there are players like Richarlison, who went into the team quickly, Lenglet was the same, Perisic, the only player struggling with the tactical aspect is Bissouma.

“I try to take the best decision because I want to protect the player. When we play 12 games in one month, you need to be ready because I need all my players.”

Asked further about Bissouma, Conte did still insist that he is “really happy with the signing”:

“Also the midfielder is a specific role for us, with the ball and without the ball,” Conte continued.

“It’s not simple. I ask for some moments, some positions. They have to be a point of reference in every moment of the game.

“The midfielder for sure, to go into our idea of football is maybe the most difficult position, but we…