MY ACCOUNT
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte claims that achieving a top-four finish in the Premier League will require a “miracle” as he prepares for Sunday’s clash with Newcastle United.
Spurs have won four of their last five Premier League games, having lost four of their previous five. They have also scored at least two goals in each of their last five matches, last doing so in more consecutive league games between February and April 2017 (a run of seven games).
Ahead of welcoming Newcastle to north London, Spurs trail fourth-placed Arsenal by just three points, but Conte was keen to highlight that his team are not favourites to finish in the Champions League places.
“It’s right to underline that this target is very, very difficult,” Conte said of Spurs’ Champions League ambitions.
“We are not the only team that wants to try to do this miracle. There’s also Arsenal, that in this moment has an advantage, and then there is United.
“United is the team that in this season are struggling a lot. Last season, it was Liverpool.
“This season it depends on United. At the moment, we are among the teams that have to try to stay very close and exploit if someone fails this season.
“If you ask me about the past, about our possibility to reach a place in the Champions League, I would say it would be very, very, very difficult.
“Now, after five months, I’m seeing great improvement of my team, and we have to fight until the end.
“We have the possibility to reach this target, and it’s important to have this type of ambition and put pressure on ourselves for this target. To play Champions League next season is important for me, the club, the players, the fans, everybody.”
Conte, however, was keen to focus on his own team’s progress, though he did admit that a victory would put “pressure” on the Gunners.
“First of all, we have to win for us,” he added. “Not look at others. This way you build a winning mentality. You have to look at yourself and not think what happens elsewhere.
“For sure, if you get three points and get continuity, you show you’re a stable team and the table becomes very interesting.
“But we have to win for us, for our fans and the work we’re doing at the club. But for sure, if you win you put pressure on the others.”
