It may be that the future comes to look on Tottenham’s 3–0 capitulation to Manchester United over the weekend as the most beneficial defeat in the history of the club. Narratives are rarely straightforward, but Saturday certainly has the feel of a sliding doors moment. What if Spurs had won? What if Nuno Espírito Santo had staggered on a few more weeks?
As it is, Nuno was dismissed on Monday morning. After the meeting between Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and director of football Fabio Paratici on Sunday, the suggestion was that Nuno would not be removed until a replacement was ready, and sure enough Antonio Conte’s appointment was confirmed at noon U.