Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League • England

Antonio Conte claims there is ‘too much distance’ between Tottenham and top squads despite positive transfer window

Antonio Conte, Tottenham v Leicester May 2022

Antonio Conte believes Tottenham Hotspur worked well within their parameters in the transfer window, but may need a couple more to match the clubs at the very top.

During Tottenham’s first summer transfer window since Antonio Conte became head coach, several players arrived in north London. Most notably, big-money deals for Richarlison and Yves Bissouma from other Premier League clubs went through.

There was also the signing of Clement Lenglet on loan, and Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster on free transfers. Elsewhere, Djed Spence on a permanent deal from Championship side Middlesbrough.

Tottenham have built a squad that many feel is capable of being competitive under Conte. However, the head coach is careful to compare where they are at with their rivals.

Still, he thinks the club have worked well this summer and back in January.

Conte summarised: “I think that first of all we have to understand that in this transfer window we did what the club could do. And I think that we did good things.

“But I have to be honest with you because if I see the other squads of the top teams there is still too much distance. And for this reason we have to know that we’ve just started this process to try to improve the squad.

“In this transfer window we tried to do this and also in January, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski. In this transfer window, we tried to improve the squad in numerical and quality aspect.

“For sure to be competitive, to fight to be a title contender, but also to get a place in Champions League, you need at least three transfer windows more before improving and being at the same level as the other top clubs.”

Conte will get the chance to add further pieces to his puzzle next year. Quizzed on whether their involvement in four competitions until then can give him an idea of what else he needs, he replied: “For sure, when you play every three days you risk many injuries and also in the last game we had a problem with Pierre Hojbjerg.

“When you play so many games in a short time, for sure you have to understand that probably you have to face injuries. For this reason it’s important to have an important squad to face four competitions.

“I always say to you, now the season starts for a club like us. We’re going to play Champions League, not Europa League or Conference League. Europa League or Conference League, you can allow yourself to make big rotations. When you go in the Champions League you have to go with a strong team and for sure the task is harder.

“But, this is a good opportunity for me, for the club, to understand if we miss something.

“I repeat, we’re going in the right way for the capacity in this moment of the club to invest money. Then we have to be realistic to understand that there are different clubs… clubs who can invest a lot of money, other clubs who can invest normal money and for sure in the path it’s harder under this aspect.

“But we want to continue to improve. We are working very well. I’m happy to have this group of players, this squad. The new players are totally inside the team, inside the dressing room.

“We did the right things. But if someone thinks we completed the situation… we are very far from this.”

Antonio Conte explains why Gil and Sarr stayed

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte

In terms of departures, Tottenham said goodbye to the likes of Steven Bergwijn, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon and Harry Winks this summer.

Several of their unwanted players left on loan deals, but some remain stuck in north London. For example, young pair Pape Matar Sarr and Bryan Gil saw departures denied.

As for their immediate futures, Conte explained: “We are talking about players that are really good prospect. But I was very clear with the club if someone go on loan, another player has to come in. Otherwise for me it’s difficult to have also the training sessions.

“We are talking about really good prospect, young players. They have to work like [Djed] Spence to develop and then to be ready to be Tottenham players for the future.

“This has to be very clear otherwise then it would be very important to not make confusions, make confusions to understand which other players if you want to be competitive or not. Young player, good prospect but at the same time we need to have players ready to play Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

“Ready to play with ambition, not only to play and develop during the game because for us the final result is vital. For me, for the club, for the fans, for everybody. The demand is high and for this reason we have to know we have to be ready for this demand.”

Antonio Conte was speaking at a press conference to preview Tottenham’s game against Fulham on Saturday. Spurs go into it third in the Premier League table, unbeaten from their first five matches.