'His own way of talking to his players' - Onuachu reacts to Conte's rant after draw v Southampton

Southampton striker Paul Onuachu was careful to choose his words when he was asked to respond to the rant by Tottenham Hotpsur manager Antonio Conte after his side let a two-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 with the Saints in the Premier League before the international break.

The Italian football tactician is walking a tightrope after making explosive statements against his own players and even against the powers that be at Tottenham Hotspur during the post-match press conference. 

The north London club were leading 3-1 with fifteen minutes left on the clock but former Arsenal man Theo Walcott pulled one back in the 77th minute before James Ward-Prowse netted from the spot to salvage a point in stoppage time. 

Onuachu, who lost his spot in Southampton's starting XI this month, watched the drama unfold from the substitutes' bench. 

Asked if the Southampton players were laughing at Conte or surprised by his remarks, Onuachu said to Elegbete TV Sports :"Talking about my own team, to be honest, we deserved if not to win, we deserved a point in that game. My team Southampton played a good game that day.

"The boys put in a good shift, everybody worked for each other. To be honest, we deserved this point.

"Antonio Conte ranting I think that should be his own way of talking to his players but for me  I'm just talking about my own team, we put in a good shift and deserved a point."

There is talk that Onuachu could be leaving the St. Mary's Stadium in the summer in the event that Southampton are relegated from the Premier League. 

When asked if there was a relegation clause in his contract, the Southampton number 12 responded : "Right now, we are still in the Premier League so we are working hard week in, week out playing games. 

"There are some games we've been unlucky even if we play good. Right now it's just to focus on the Premier League and try to stay up. 

"When the other time comes, we'll talk about that, right now we just focus on the Premier League."

Onuachu is expected to start from the bench when the Super Eagles trade tackles with Guinea-Bissau in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday evening. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : southamptonfc.com

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