Tottenham Hotspur are planning to back Antonio Conte fully in the transfer market this summer to ensure the Italian’s ambitions can be achieved at the club, football.london understands.The Italian has surpassed expectations in his first seven months at Spurs, taking them to a fourth-place finish and back into the Champions League. For Conte this project brings something different to his usual assignments. Often parachuted into big clubs already set up to challenge and needing to perform quickly, at Tottenham he is the big fish in a smaller pond but one that has the potential to be something much bigger with him as its architect. It will take a lot of work and Conte admits he has been drained by his experiences at Tottenham this season. He needs help this summer.
Antonio Conte said: “Today is really important to celebrate this big achievement but for sure to become competitive and be ready to fight for something important you need to improve, improve a lot in many aspects and I know only one word, that is work, work, work. Everybody has to do the right path in this process. We need to improve a lot. Next season the league will be very difficult for all the teams. With five subs you can change a game. If the bench is strong like a top team, like City, Chelsea, United and Liverpool, you need to improve a lot your squad in quality aspect and numerical aspect. You have to face in England three national competitions and one in the Champions League.”
When asked how many new players he wants,
Antonio Conte said: “In this moment it was very difficult to speak about this. I’m very tired. I was really focused to get this big achievement. First it was a big achievement for myself. Despite the fact I didn’t lift a trophy, for me it is a big achievement, for me in a short time and short period in a difficult situation I worked a lot with my players to bring this club to play Champions League. I want to consider this qualification like a trophy. In my mind, my heart, my head I know what we did in these seven months. Me, my staff and the players. I want to celebrate and we’ll have time to speak with the club about everything.”
Conte was pushed one more time to confirm that he will be in charge of Tottenham next season and in a rarity for the Spurs boss in recent weeks, he did acknowledge that he has another season on his contract.
Antonio Conte said: “I’m under contract until next summer. I signed for one year and seven months. I enjoyed a lot my time at Tottenham because, I repeat, for me it was a big challenge. To come in during the season, for a coach like me, is not easy. It was a big challenge in a modern club with a fantastic stadium and training ground. I knew the situation I could find, to give me the opportunity to work in the way that I want, on the one hand. On the other hand, I have ambition, I like to fight for something important, to lift trophies. For me this is a trophy and I’m very happy. Then we’ll see. I always said at the end of the season we’ll speak to the club and find the best solution for me and the club.”
Conte has found a club where people are hanging on his every word. The Italian has a high opinion of his worth – as most managers do – but there will still be something appealing about a club where he is designing the project rather than being simply responsible for its success.
