Conte committed but expected Tottenham to be ‘more ready to fight and to win’ when he joined

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says when he took over at Spurs in November he expected to find a club “more ready to fight and to win”.

Conte’s side are eighth in the Premier League but have lost four of their past five league games to slip seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

The Italian was emotional post-game following Tottenham’s midweek 1-0 defeat to lowly Burnley, with the honeymoon period of his first few months long gone.

“Maybe in my heart, mind and head I thought to find a situation, not better, but [a club] more ready to fight and to win,” Conte told reporters ahead of Saturday’s league game with Leeds United.

“And instead now I found a situation where we have to work. To work a lot, much more than was my expectation to do, but I am not scared about the work as in my life only through work have I reached important level in my career.

“When I arrived here I did not ask anything. But at the same time I know that if I arrive here and they know that you are taking an important coach, not a medium coach.”

Conte had earlier apologised for his emotional outburst following the Burnley defeat and backtracked on comments that hinted his future at Spurs was uncertain.

The former Inter and Chelsea boss met with chairman Daniel Levy and insisted they’re on the “same page” but Conte also offered no guarantees that he would still be at Spurs by the end of the season.

“We are starting to build something important for the club,” Conte said. “This is the most important thing. I always say, when I arrive in a place, when I have to go away from this club, I have to leave this club much better than I found it. I have done this with every club I have worked at.

“For sure, it will be the same for this club. If you ask me in four months, one year, two years, three years. Now it is very difficult to [offer guarantees]. But for sure, I am working to improve the club in every aspect.

“In this moment, I repeat, I am totally committed to Tottenham and I have a good relationship with the club, especially with Daniel.”