There’s apparently trouble brewing in paradise as Spurs manager Antonio Conte and the club’s owners are facing unrest among the club’s supporters after the Italian coach told them in no uncertain terms to prepare for another trophy-less season.
Conte further added that being able to get Tottenham into the top four and Champions League football last season is already ‘a miracle’ but was frank in admitting that a repeat of that feat is unlikely in the wake of this latest unexpected defeat.
Tottenham have only had regular European football to play for since winning a League Cup 15 years ago, but there had been a feeling that a serial winner with the reputation and credibility of Conte could break the stalemate.
Unfortnately the Italian maverick was helpless starting the New Year watching a listless Tottenham side fall to a determined Aston Villa. This time the comeback Kings were clueless after conceding second half goals to Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz.
“I was expecting this moment,” Conte conceded afterwards. “Now we have to fight and be strong because when you are in the situation we are in this league you can slip quickly.
“I’m not scared, I believe in my work and I believe in these players, but don’t give me things I can’t promise you. This is only to give dreams and you need to be realistic. If you know the situation you face the moment in the right way.”
Conte’s words were possibly a plea to club chairman Daniel Levy to loosen his grip on the purse strings in this month’s transfer window and inject some new life into a squad looking threadbare.
He added: “For the potential of the club, I continue to repeat that we made a miracle [last season]. It happened why? Because we played only one competition with 12, 13 players and they didn’t have injuries in the last 15 games and we played only the best players. Arsenal were only four points up and we finished 20 points less than Manchester City. We did a miracle and I knew the situation.
“I was very clear with the club and in the summer people spoke about Tottenham as title contenders. From my experience it was a bit crazy to read this but you have to accept this.
“To become title contenders you need a solid foundation, 14-15 strong quality players and the young players to develop and every season you can add two players, but two players to invest £60m, £70m players to improve the level of your team.
“People think that you arrive and you win in this way. If people are not used to this you need to create this situation, you need time and patience.”
The gloomy, albeit defiant, statements in his post-match press conference cane shortly after he told the BBC: “I want to be honest, I want to be very clear. I have said this to the club, I have said my opinions. The fans deserve the best. Maybe to stay in 5th is the best. Maybe 6th, 7th, 5th or 4th is the best.”