Tottenham boss Antonio Conte insists he is ‘happy’ and ‘really committed’ to the club project, despite the Italian holding out on a new contract and his deal expiring at the end of the season
- Antonio Conte says he is committed to Spurs and wants to help build the club
- Contract talks stalled with Conte’s deal expiring at the end of the season
- The Italian said he wants to help build a foundation at the club
- Tottenham travel to Crystal Palace tomorrow hoping to address their poor form
Antonio Conte insists he is ‘absolutely committed’ to Tottenham despite extending his contract at the club.
The Italian’s deal expires at the end of this season, although there is an option for a further year.
Conte has so far stalled on accepting a new contract after holding talks with Spurs chiefs at the World Cup.
Antonio Conte insists he wants to stay at Tottenham despite stalling on a new contract
The 55-year-old reiterated his commitment despite lingering uncertainty over his future.
Conte has sought to play down suggestions he is unhappy at Tottenham, saying he is at a ‘modern club’.
‘I’m happy to stay here,’ said Conte. ‘I’m enjoying my time at Tottenham, I’m happy with the way I’m working.
‘I always say this. We are trying to create a base foundation.
‘Maybe from the start of my experience here, I always repeat the same thing over and over again and it’s hard for me to answer the same thing every day.
‘Then to understand that you don’t understand. It’s hard, believe me. It’s hard.’
Conte said he is enjoying his time at the club and wants to build a foundation
Conte said there were ‘unrealistic expectations’ of his side after losing to Aston Villa
‘I keep repeating that I’m happy to stay here because I’m at a modern club, it’s good to work with these players and I have a good relationship.
‘It’s hard for me every day to repeat the same thing and you don’t understand. I’m happy to stay here because I’m at a modern club, I have a good relationship with the players and I have a good relationship with the club.
‘There are times when I go home and think maybe I need to study English better because I’m not good at shifting my thoughts.’
Conte appeared to hint after Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa that the club will need to spend in the coming windows to compete at the top of the Premier League.
Spurs were criticized following their poor display in Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Villa
The Italian claimed there were ‘unrealistic expectations’ from his side, insisting it was ‘crazy’ to see suggestions Spurs could challenge for the title in the summer.
The former Inter Milan boss said the club needed to sign ‘important players’ to improve the quality of the team, with a foundation of 14-15 strong players needed to mount a title challenge.
Conte said he has not suggested he needs more players in the transfer window, and is committed to helping the club grow its project.
‘I didn’t propose anything,’ said Conte. ‘This is the difference. I understand that my English may not be that good and you may not understand which is my thought. I didn’t suggest anything.’
Dejan Kulusevski could be selected tomorrow when Spurs face Crystal Palace
‘Now I am really committed for this club and for Tottenham,’ he added. ‘Then there was this project and I signed a contract with this club to accept this project and try to build and help the club.
‘During this process it can happen 1,000 things. The club can fire the manager or have different visions, different situations.’
Tottenham will target a first win since the World Cup when the North London side travel to Crystal Palace tomorrow after drawing at Brentford and losing at Villa following the restart.
Conte hopes to get Dejan Kulusevski at Selhurst Park after the recent Swedish player of the year missed the defeat at Villa through injury.
Rodrigo Bentancur has returned to training following an injury sustained at the World Cup with Uruguay and is likely to return after Tottenham’s FA Cup tie against Portsmouth.
Rodrigo Bentancur (left) returns to Spurs training after injury in reinforcement for Conte
Richarlison is expected to undergo another MRI scan to check the progress of the hamstring injury he sustained at the World Cup with Brazil.
Tottenham are currently two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League having played a game more than their rivals.
Spurs are five points clear of the Champions League places when they face Palace if United beat Bournemouth on Tuesday.
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