---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Alex McLeish makes Ryan Sessegnon claim at Spurs"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/alex-mcleish-praise-ryan-sessegnon-conte-spurs/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2022-02-27T11:04:25Z"
modified: "2022-02-27T11:04:25Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Alex McLeish makes Ryan Sessegnon claim at Spurs

**Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/tottenham-news-former-manager-issues-game-changing-ryan-sessegnon-claim/), former Scotland coach and [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b43zj5) pundit Alex McLeish has made a claim involving Tottenham defender Ryan Sessegnon and his manager Antonio Conte.**

### The Lowdown: Sessegnon comes with promise…

In 2019, Spurs fan favourite and former manager Mauricio Pochettino signed a highly promising English talent in Sessegnon to the tune of [£25m](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49283542).

[Tottenham latest developments!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-copy/)

Having impressed at Fulham, with ex-Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic calling him [‘special’ and ‘fantastic’](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/fulham/story/3498600/ryan-sessegnon-a-special-talent-after-lifting-fulham-slavisa-jokanovic) back in 2018, Sessegnon has endured a mixed time at Spurs over-all.

Missing [20 games in total](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ryan-sessegnon/verletzungen/spieler/392775) for Tottenham through injury this season, Sessegnon has nonetheless been tipped to become an [important player under Conte](https://www.footballinsider247.com/ex-manager-excited-by-tottenham-wonderboy-sessegnon-after-hotspur-way-reveal/) due to his potential to thrive in a back-three system.

### The Latest: ‘Game changer’ for Sessegnon…

Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/tottenham-news-former-manager-issues-game-changing-ryan-sessegnon-claim/), the former Scotland boss said that Conte’s ‘stroke of genius’ tactics could be a ‘gamechanger’ for the 21-year-old ace.

McLeish stated: *“Conte’s had great success with the three-at-the-back system.* *You go back to days at Chelsea, he started off with a doing against Arsenal, their big rivals. Then he completely changed it and they went on to win the league.*

*“It was a phenomenal achievement and certainly to change it in those early days was a stroke of genius. He knows how to play that system inside out.*

*“Sessegnon coming in there, he’s almost a converted winger. We’ve seen a lot of this over the years, I think France started to do it before anyone else.*

*“They started converting wingers into attacking full-backs or attacking wing-backs. Conte does that absolutely brilliantly.*

*“This could be a real gamechanger for this young man.”*

### The Verdict: McLeish could be right

Sessegnon has already proven at times this season that he has the potential to thrive under the Italian, even despite Conte controversially substituting him after just [28 minutes against Wolves](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10508197/Tottenham-fans-criticise-Antonio-Conte-Ryan-Sessegnon-substituted-just-28-minutes.html#:~:text=Antonio%20Conte%20has%20been%20accused,Conte%20at%20left%20wing%2Dback.).

For example, the ex-Inter Milan boss raved over the [‘fantastic’](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1569055/Tottenham-news-Antonio-Conte-forgotten-man-Ryan-Sessegnon-Man-City-Premier-League) left-wing back following his performance in Tottenham’s shock 3-2 victory away to Manchester City last weekend.

If the former England under-21 starlet can put in shifts like that on a regular basis, Conte could certainly be on to a winner with the ex-Fulham youngster, as McLeish has suggested.

***In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘One to watch’…Media blown away by ‘stunning’ development at Tottenham, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-news/conte-spurs-quit-rumours-media-reacts/)***