CHELSEA BOSS ANTONIO Conte had plenty to say about Tottenham’s ambitions after Spurs chairman Daniel Levy claimed that the spending in the Premier League was unsustainable.
The claims from Levy concerned the massive payouts made by clubs on players, but the Blues boss believes it all comes down to expectations, and that it’s easier for Spurs to stick to their morals when they aren’t chasing big prizes on the pitch.
Conte’s Chelsea have splashed the cash this summer, spending upward of £100 million to bring in the likes of Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko, while Spurs have stayed quiet through the summer window.
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“My question is this — What are Tottenham’s expectations?” Conte asked. “If they don’t win the title, it’s not a tragedy. If they don’t arrive in the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy. If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League and go down against Gent, it is not a tragedy.
“For Chelsea, Arsenal, City, United and… I don’t know… Liverpool, it is a tragedy. You must understand this. You must understand the status of the team.”
While Chelsea have certainly spent big during the summer, Manchester City’s outlay of over £100m and the rumoured €222m offered by PSG for Neymar have raised more than a few eyebrows with the figures being paid for players.
While Levy doesn’t think it’s positive for the game, Conte believes it’s just something that the biggest clubs must do, but admits that Tottenham have a squad that can be competitive in the Premier League if they can keep their stars in house.
“If Barcelona does not compete for the title, it’s a tragedy,” he said. ”It’s the same for Real Madrid. But if Sevilla, for example, does not compete for the title, it is not a tragedy and they can breathe.
“You can think in a different way and you can judge the others but the others must fight to win the title. Every team has to understand what their ambitions are. If their ambitions are to win or fight for the title or try to win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players. Otherwise you continue to stay in your level. It’s simple.
“Now, if you want to compete to fight for the title in England — and there has been a miracle with Leicester and with us, because we won the title with only 13 players — you have to be strong.
“Tottenham is a really good team, if they are able to keep the same squad as last season. They lost Kyle Walker but they have a structure.”
Conte takes shot at Spurs' ambitions after Levy's spending comments
CHELSEA BOSS ANTONIO Conte had plenty to say about Tottenham’s ambitions after Spurs chairman Daniel Levy claimed that the spending in the Premier League was unsustainable.
The claims from Levy concerned the massive payouts made by clubs on players, but the Blues boss believes it all comes down to expectations, and that it’s easier for Spurs to stick to their morals when they aren’t chasing big prizes on the pitch.
Conte’s Chelsea have splashed the cash this summer, spending upward of £100 million to bring in the likes of Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko, while Spurs have stayed quiet through the summer window.
“My question is this — What are Tottenham’s expectations?” Conte asked. “If they don’t win the title, it’s not a tragedy. If they don’t arrive in the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy. If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League and go down against Gent, it is not a tragedy.
“For Chelsea, Arsenal, City, United and… I don’t know… Liverpool, it is a tragedy. You must understand this. You must understand the status of the team.”
While Chelsea have certainly spent big during the summer, Manchester City’s outlay of over £100m and the rumoured €222m offered by PSG for Neymar have raised more than a few eyebrows with the figures being paid for players.
While Levy doesn’t think it’s positive for the game, Conte believes it’s just something that the biggest clubs must do, but admits that Tottenham have a squad that can be competitive in the Premier League if they can keep their stars in house.
“If Barcelona does not compete for the title, it’s a tragedy,” he said. ”It’s the same for Real Madrid. But if Sevilla, for example, does not compete for the title, it is not a tragedy and they can breathe.
“You can think in a different way and you can judge the others but the others must fight to win the title. Every team has to understand what their ambitions are. If their ambitions are to win or fight for the title or try to win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players. Otherwise you continue to stay in your level. It’s simple.
“Now, if you want to compete to fight for the title in England — and there has been a miracle with Leicester and with us, because we won the title with only 13 players — you have to be strong.
“Tottenham is a really good team, if they are able to keep the same squad as last season. They lost Kyle Walker but they have a structure.”
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