Conte impressed with his young midfield duo (Picture: Getty)
Antonio Conte has hailed the performances of Tottenham youngsters Pape Sarr and Oliver Skipp despite defeat to AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League tie.
With Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma injured and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg serving a suspension, the Spurs boss called on the young duo to marshal his midfield at the San Siro on Tuesday night.
A 1-0 defeat courtesy of a seventh minute goal from Brahim Diaz means Tottenham have work to do when the second leg comes around on 8 March.
But the performances of Sarr, 20, and Skipp, 22, offered the manager plenty of encouragement.
Both players could have key roles to play before the end of the season with Bentancur set to miss the remainder of the campaign following the knee injury he suffered in the 4-1 defeat to Leicester City on Saturday.
Bissouma meanwhile has just undergone ankle injury with his return date still to be determined. But Conte is confident he can count on his young duo ‘100 per cent’.
‘I am really satisfied for both players because they played a really good game and they showed the trust that we have in them and they repaid it,’ Conte told BT Sport.
Sarr could have a key role to play for the remainder of the season (Picture: Getty)
‘Don’t forget now we have just three midfielders and we have to continue with them maybe until the end of the season.
‘The performance from Sarr and Skipp makes me more relaxed because I know I can count on them 100 per cent and we have Pierre Emile Højbjerg who is a key player.’
Milan are looking to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2012 but Conte is confident his side can turn things around in north London.
‘For qualification you have to play two games,’ he said.
‘It is the first game away and the atmosphere was fantastic. I know the San Siro and I know the difficulty to play with this atmosphere.
‘In the second game we have to play at our stadium and our fans will create the atmosphere to help us overcome the Milan obstacle.’
MORE : ‘They cannot compete physically’ – Arsene Wenger gives damning verdict on Tottenham
MORE : Brahim Diaz goal gives Milan first leg victory over Tottenham in Champions League tie
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With injuries elsewhere, they could have key roles to play this season.
