Antonio Conte gives his verdict on Premier League top four race

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has identified which teams he believes are in contention for the Premier League top four race and admits his side must ‘over-perform 200 percent’ to make the grade this season.

The campaign has reached the halfway stage with the battle for the European places already looking finely poised.

Less can be said about the title race, though, with Manchester City already producing an eight point gap at the summit between themselves and Chelsea, while Liverpool sit a point behind the Blues in third.

Arsenal occupy the final Champions League spot, four points ahead of West Ham and Manchester United respectively.

Meanwhile, Tottenham currently sit in seventh-place five points off the top four, but are still playing catch-up with two games in hand over the sides around them due to Covid-related postponements earlier this month.

Conte, who has remained unbeaten in his seven Premier League games in charge of the club, suggested the likes of City, Chelsea, Liverpool and United are in the strongest positions to finish in the top four and admitted Spurs would need to capitalise on any stumbles to make their way in.

In the pre-Watford press conference, Conte said (via Football.London): “I don’t know which is the favourite. For sure, on paper there are four very strong teams with good squads, important squads. City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

“I think these are the four top teams that have to fail [for us] to find a place in Champions League.

“You have to be very, very good because there’s also Arsenal, West Ham, Leicester and Everton – many, many good teams. You have to hope the others fail and you’re good and over-perform 200 percent.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There is a bit of a split at the top of the table and just below for the top four race. It is pretty congested there already, so any points that are dropped now are going to be crucial come the end of the season. As such, Conte will need to have his squad fully focused for what is to come.

Related Topics