antonio conte happy
How satisfied are you with what you got out of your side tonight?
On one hand I think we have to be satisfied because it is not easy to play in this moment against an amazing team, especially at Anfield with an amazing atmosphere and a lot of noise. It’s not simple. Against Liverpool, to see Liverpool players running and have a lot of energy despite playing every three days is incredible. I think that they’re deserving everything they are reaching this season. For sure for this reason too, to have a good result was positive on one hand. On the other I think maybe we have to be a bit disappointed, and I can see it in the eyes of my players at the end of the game. A bit of disappointment because we had the chances to win, to win the game, especially the last time. It was an incredible chance but I repeat, good performance. I asked of my players to be good defensively and I think we didn’t concede to Liverpool any chances. We conceded from a deflection. At the same time I asked for them to be brave, with courage, because Liverpool in every game are going to press you in a strong way. If we are prepared and you’ve studied the way to overcome this pressure, you can find a lot of space to attack and to create problems for Liverpool. When this happened we created the chances to score, but I think the draw was fair.
Ultimately was it an important point in the race for Champions League qualification or is there frustration that you haven’t been able to put greater pressure on Arsenal?
First of all Arsenal have to play tomorrow. In England no easy games. Don’t forget Brighton. Today they won 4-0 against Manchester United. Brentford won 3-0 against Southampton and against these two teams we dropped points. I want to show you that in England not easy games. You can’t think that ‘I’m playing against a low or medium team’. That doesn’t exist, a low or medium team in England. Every game is very difficult and for that reason there are three games to go for us, four games to go for Arsenal. In every game you have to gain three points, not easy. Not easy for us and not easy for Arsenal. We deserve to stay in this race because I think in November not many people could believe Tottenham can fight until the end for a place in the Champions League. Now we stay in the race and we are deserving this. On Thursday we have an important game, a vital game and a north London derby against Arsenal, our rival for this race and it’s another game I want to get three points because it will be very important to continue to have hope and to finish in the Champions League.
Does the tactical discipline shown by your players in that atmosphere show an improvement in mentality?
Yeah, for sure I have to be proud of my players because as I said before to play with this atmosphere, a lot of noise around you, and with fans who are very excited for the result of Liverpool, and it wasn’t easy. Instead I think that we have never lost the composure, the calm to face difficult moments. I think we didn’t concede great chances to Liverpool to score. At the same time I asked my players to be brave with the ball. I know it’s not easy because Liverpool want to put a lot of pressure, to be a problem to you, but I think we prepared the game very well and when we were able to overcome the pressure we created chances we could exploit much better.
How long until you can compete with Liverpool for the title?
Yeah I understand this type of questions, but I think we need to have a path with the team, and to create a base and then to improve the base here. I think Liverpool, no I’m sure Liverpool did this because they created a foundation with Jurgen and they did a fantastic job in seven years they won a lot, He created a monster, in a good way, an amazing way, and he has to be satisfied – but to do this you have to have time and patience, and a lot of things because you have to go step by step. It’s impossible to imagine that next season you are going to win the title because I’m realistic and I know there are teams in England like Liverpool and City, Chelsea, also United, who are really strong, and it’s not simple to face these monsters.
