Tottenham sacking Antonio Conte hurt me – I was devastated by what happened next

Ryan Sessegnon has opened up about the emotional and physical challenges he faced during his injury-riddled tenure at Tottenham Hotspur. Since joining the club in the summer of 2019 following an impressive spell at Fulham, Sessegnon’s time in North London was plagued by recurring injuries, limiting him to just 57 appearances.

The left-sided player reflected on his turbulent journey, marked by setbacks and moments of despair, as he sought to rebuild his career.

Sessegnon found some stability during Antonio Conte’s time at the helm, enjoying a decent run of games before suffering a significant hamstring injury at the start of 2023.

However, his fortunes worsened under Conte’s successor, Ange Postecoglou. After undergoing surgery on his left hamstring during the summer, Sessegnon worked tirelessly to regain fitness, only to experience another devastating injury while playing for Tottenham’s Under-21s. This time, his right hamstring gave out, requiring yet another operation and prolonging his time on the sidelines.

Reflecting on the transition from Conte to Postecoglou, Sessegnon admitted feeling disappointed by the managerial change.

Despite his strong relationship with Conte, he adapted to the new leadership, praising Postecoglou as a “very good coach” and “a very good guy.” Sessegnon entered the preseason determined to make an impression but suffered a setback during a training session.

While executing a shot that soared into the top corner, he felt a sharp pain in his left hamstring. The injury kept him out for four months and required surgery, marking the start of a grueling recovery process.

The timing of this injury coincided with personal milestones, as Sessegnon’s partner was expecting their child. Balancing the demands of recovery with the responsibilities of fatherhood proved challenging.

He recounted being on crutches while his partner gave birth, feeling helpless but also finding solace in the opportunity to spend more time with his newborn. This period provided emotional relief, allowing him to focus on his family while navigating the difficult road to recovery.

As Sessegnon progressed through rehab, he began training with the Under-21s to regain match fitness. His first game back was against West Ham, and initially, everything seemed positive.

However, 35 minutes into the match, disaster struck again. While sprinting after the ball, he felt a sharp pain in his right hamstring, worse than the previous injury. Unable to walk off the pitch, he collapsed and was carted away for medical evaluation. The subsequent scan confirmed the worst: he needed surgery once more.

This second injury marked a significant blow to Sessegnon’s aspirations, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Already in the final year of his contract, he faced mounting uncertainty about his future at the club.

Despite his efforts, there were no discussions about a contract renewal, and Sessegnon came to terms with the reality that his time at Tottenham was coming to an end. The club decided not to activate the extension clause in his contract, leaving him to consider his next move.

While the news of his departure was disheartening, Sessegnon had prepared himself mentally for this outcome. He expressed a desire to remain at the club but understood the circumstances surrounding the decision.

Discussions with his agent began to focus on finding new opportunities, as he sought to rebuild his career away from Tottenham.

Looking back on his time in North London, Sessegnon acknowledged the challenges but also the lessons learned. Despite the setbacks, he remained determined to overcome adversity and continue his professional journey.

Now back at Fulham, Sessegnon has the opportunity to reignite his career and demonstrate the resilience that carried him through one of the most challenging periods of his life.