‘If I don’t want to accept it, I have to leave’: Tottenham boss Antonio Conte makes fresh threat to STAND UP as he says he must accept the fact his team cannot challenge for trophies
Antonio Conte has admitted he will have to walk away from Tottenham if he cannot take charge of a club that is still not ready to challenge for the biggest prize.
Conte is used to fighting for league and European titles in coaching roles at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
Spurs hope his appointment will take them to the same level but the 53-year-old Italian, whose contract expires at the end of this season, believes they will remain a long way off.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte (pictured) has admitted he will have to walk away from the club if he cannot accept managing a club that is still not ready to fight for the biggest prize
A 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday left Spurs in fifth, 14 points behind arch-rivals Arsenal.
‘Here, my task is different,’ said Conte, ahead of Wednesday night’s game at Crystal Palace. ‘My task is to help the club, build a solid foundation, create a base and then try to improve.
‘This is my challenge here. If you ask me whether the challenge is to win the Premier League or the Champions League, this is not the task here at the moment. The task for me is to help the club.
‘When I signed the contract in November 2021, I found the club in a difficult position for many reasons.
The outspoken Italian’s contract expires at the end of the season and Conte could leave
‘I understand my task is to try to help the club go back in the right direction, about the choices of players, about work, to organize and create a foundation.
‘Now if I want to stay here, I have to accept it. Otherwise, if I don’t want to accept it, I have to leave.’
Spurs can extend Conte’s contract by another 12 months but are unwilling to exercise the clause if the manager is determined to find a new challenge.
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