Antonio Conte wants Tottenham to be competitive in all competitions next season, and for other teams to be worried about facing Spurs.
The Italian is putting his stamp on the Spurs squad ahead of his first full season at the North London club, with the Lilywhites making six new signings so far this summer.
This has prompted some pundits to suggest that Tottenham could challenge the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool next season (talkSPORT).
Conte explained that Spurs are now building a solid foundation in order to be able to compete with the best teams in the years to come.
He told Football.London: “My target is to try to be competitive. My target is that when the other teams are going to play against Tottenham, they will be, not scared, but a bit worried.
“This is our target. Then I have a group of players that need to have ambition together and to go another step.
“When I arrived in November, I said that if we wanted to try to go up in the table, we would have to go together, to improve the team together, but at the same time, the players have to go to another level. To grow, grow, grow. I think we have a young team.
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“We have many players that can play for Tottenham for three or four years together. I think we are trying to create a solid foundation, then to go step by step to improve and then, in the end, to fight for something important.”
Conte admitted that competing with Liverpool and City will not be straightforward next season, given the level both teams have been at over the last few years.
When asked if Spurs can close the gap on the top two, he responded: “At the moment it’s difficult to speak about [closing the gap to the top two] because we had the transfer window but also the other teams had the transfer window.
“But they were ahead in the last six years by 20 points more, especially Manchester City and Liverpool. They stay ahead by 20 points. They fight for the last six years.
“The last team that won was Chelsea when I was there. Then Manchester, Liverpool… Liverpool, Manchester. Also, that competition is very difficult but we have to know that we want to continue to build and we have seven months of work.
“This is very important because we can build on this work to try to become stronger.”
While the Italian admitted that he is setting his sights very high for the upcoming campaign, he also added that his expectations have to be tempered, given the kind of sides that Spurs will be fighting with.
The 52-year-old added: “You want to win the title, yes I understand but I am realistic. Also, when I arrived at Inter Milan and Juventus for many, many years created a gap with Inter of more than 20 points.
“In the first season, we reduced the gap and in the second season, we won but in Italy, there was only one team to fight. Here, there are many teams.
“Liverpool, City, Chelsea… Chelsea last year won the Champions League and this year won the Club World Cup. Don’t forget Manchester United, they are strong, and Arsenal, also, going into the transfer market and spending money.
“It will be a tough season and an exciting season but we have to try to push ourselves and try to improve. To improve in all the situations that can bring us to be competitive shortly.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Some Spurs fans are understandably dreaming of a title challenge in the upcoming campaign but I believe catching Liverpool and Man City will be beyond our reach.
Finishing third, winning a domestic cup, and potentially making it to the final eight of the Champions League, will represent a fantastic season for us.
If we continue building over the next two transfer windows, a title challenge could be a realistic target during the 2023/24 season.
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