Conte says Spurs won’t challenge for EPL or Champions League

Antonio Conte asserted that Tottenham Hotspur need to adjust their current expectations away from the EPL or Champions League. The coach claimed the club cannot challenge for a title in either competition. Instead, the Italian says that his job to steer the team in the ‘right direction.’

Conte made the comments during a press conference ahead of a matchup with Crystal Palace on Wednesday. “Here, I understood that my task is different. My task here is to help the club to build a solid foundation, to create a base, and then to try to improve,” said Conte.

“If you ask me, ‘is the challenge to win the Premier League, the Champions League?’ This is not the task here for this moment.”

Latest loss dropped Spurs from top 4

The Spurs boss made similar comments following a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa at the weekend. He previously stated that the north London outfit finishing fifth may be the best-case scenario. The Villa defeat was Tottenham’s fourth Premier League loss in their last seven match. They are now 14 points behind league-leading Arsenal.

“The task for me is to help the club,” Conte continued. “I signed a contract in November [2021] and I found the club in a difficult position, for many reasons. My task, I understood very well, is to try to help the club to go in the right direction or to come back in the right direction.”

“About the choices of the players, about the work, to organize and create a foundation – this is my big challenge here, and I have to accept that if I want to stay here. Otherwise, if I don’t want to accept this, I have to go.”

Antonio Conte current contract expires at end of EPL and Champions League season

Conte is currently in the final year of his contract. Team brass has held many talks with the Italian coach on extending his stay in north London, but Conte has stalled on agreeing to fresh terms.

This is essentially a new experience for the Italian. He’s not exactly used to being such a position with a team. Conte previously collected league titles with Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter Milan. While he very well could depart Spurs on his own, team management could also fire the manager for lack of results on the pitch as well.

PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images