Antonio Contemooted the idea of his resignation in a brutally honest assessment of Tottenham Hotspur after their defeat to Burnley.
The Londoners had stemmed the flow of three straight Premier League defeats with a remarkable victory against Manchester City at the Etihad but this latest loss at Turf Moor put a real dampener on any happy feeling within the camp.
Spurs had hoped Saturday's win would push them forward in their pursuit of Champions League football, however, they now sit seven points off fourth-position – albeit with two games in hand over an equally inconsistent Manchester United team.
On the situation
Despite having games to catch up on, Conte was damning of the club's state – explaining that the Burnley result in isolation is not the main problem at Tottenham by a long stretch of the imagination.
"I don’t want to comment on the game," Conte said – angrily setting the tone. "I want to comment only on the situation. In the last five games, we lost four times. This is the reality. Not performance, not space no space.
"The reality is this. That we lost four games of the last five. No one deserves this type of situation – the club, me, the payers and fans, but this is the reality.
"I came in to try to improve the situation in Tottenham but maybe in this moment, I don’t know, I’m not so good to improve the situation.
"For me, it’s very frustrating because I know we’re working hard, working a lot and trying to get the best out of every single player. The reality is this.
"I’m too honest to close my eyes and say: "OK on Saturday we’re going to play another game". It's right at the moment to see well, what is the situation well and to make an assessment. Also I repeat: I’m really frustrated and I’m not used to being faced with this type of situation.
"But the problem, I repeat: I’m trying to do everything to change the situation but the situation is not changing. Someone has to speak about the race for the fourth place, and the reality from the last five games is we have to pay attention to not fight for the relegation zone.
This is the truth. this is the reality, and when this type of situation happens, maybe there is something wrong. I don't want to close my eyes, I want to take my responsibility, if I have the responsibility. I am open, I am open for every decision because I want to help Tottenham.
From the first day I arrived here I want to help Tottenham. I repeat: I am too honest to close my eyes and continue in this way, and also take my salary. But it's not right in this moment."
On mentality
Conte was asked about what can be done, following the four defeats in five that the Italian had just spoken openly about, and the Tottenham manager continued to speak from the anguish in his heart.
"Believe me, we are working a lot. We are working a lot, we are working hard every day. I think that we are doing everything to change the situation but maybe it's not enough.
"It's not enough. I repeat, for me it's very frustrating. Four defeats in the last five games. This is the first time in my life this type of situation has happened.
"Maybe I'm not so good. Yes, maybe I'm not so good.
"I think Tottenham called me to improve the situation but I'm too honest. I'm too honest to close my eyes, you understand, and to continue to say 'ok I want to finish the season in this way and ok my salary is good'.
"But I'm not this type of person. I have ambition, I'm a person who has ambition, I hate to lose and we lost – I repeat – four games in the last five games. And for me, I repeat, this is unacceptable.
"I won't accept this. I want to try to improve the situation and also to make assessment with the club because if we continue in this way, maybe we have to pay great attention because this league we can finish 10th, 12th, 13th the same way that when I arrive here the same position."
Conte's demeanour had transformed in just the space of a few days – euphoria to melancholy. It would be incredible to think that this game marked the end of the road for the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager, but this is Conte after all. If he isn't happy, he will walk.