antonio conte happy
You said it would be a miracle to finish fourth and you’ve achieved it, how does this feel?
Yeah for sure if we come back to the past, yes it was very very difficult to explain this about Tottenham. But we are enjoying a lot what we did and for me I didn’t lift a trophy this season like in the past but if I have to be honest and see the path and the difficulty to come in since November in a difficult situation with a team that was struggling a lot in a difficult league like the Premier League. It’s very very difficult – to reach a place in Champions League I have to consider this a really big big achievement for me and for my players, and also for the club consider this a big achievement after three years Tottenham is able to play again in Champions League. For us it’s very important because the best players, the best coaches want to play in this competition, for this trophy. We must be pleased for what we did.
And Son managed to get the Golden Boot as well?
But you know very well what I said during my press conference. I said ok, but before we need to get a place in the Champions League, then if there is the possibility to help Sonny to become top scorer in the league then we are very happy. And he scored twice and he could have scored more. But at the same time I want to underline the big effort the team did for Sonny. To see this I really appreciated the will, the desire of the team-mates to help him become top scorer. It means that there is a great atmosphere in the dressing room. It means the players are really good people, not only good players. We were good to match today these two targets, to get a place in the Champions League and for Sonny to win the Golden Boot.
How much of a difference does Champions League qualification make for your future?
For sure, it’s important. Don’t forget our path. Don’t forget what happened in the last few years, because in the last time Tottenham played in the Champions League they reached the final and it was an incredible achievement at that time. It will be very important to understand that we did a fantastic job together, because when I talk about a fantastic job, I put inside the players, my staff, the club. Don’t forget also in January we made important decisions to try to improve the situation. This season I think the mistakes were not a lot since November and for this reason now we are talking about Tottenham in the Champions League. But it is very important to not forget the path that we had to try to improve the situation because we need to improve the situation, next season for sure, there are five substitutions, another competition and Tottenham must understand this, that it will be very difficult, maybe much more than next season.
How much strengthening does this squad need?
Today is not the right time to speak about this topic. 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.
How many new players would you like?
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 I didn’t lift 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.
Can you confirm, are you staying?
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.
Will you speak to the club after your holiday or before?
Now I think for me, the club and the players it’s good to have three, four, five days of rest and then the mind will be very clear. Then you can consider the whole season. I think you have to be very calm before talking. Now there’s a lot of emotions in mind, my heart, for me, for the club and for everybody. For this reason, it’ll be very good to rest for four or five days and then have a good meeting with the club to find the best possible solution.
