The coach of Tottenham Hotspur, Antonio Contesaid the team faces an “impossible” challenge: qualifying for the Champions League next season after a recent dip in form.
Spurs suffered their third successive Premier League loss on Sunday 2-0 at Wolverhampton and dropped to eighth in the table with 36 points after 22 games.
Conte went unbeaten in his first nine league games after taking charge of Tottenham in November, but the optimism that that run induced is fading. “When you lose two games at home and against Chelsea, for a team that wants to qualify for the Champions League, that’s impossible for it to happen,” Conte told Sky Sports on Sunday.
“We know that we have to fight to build something important, but it is important to know the situation. Maybe our fans should not be disappointed with the loss, but try to push us and support us. They need to find the right atmosphere and not feel pressure for a goal that right now you can’t reach. I’ve been saying it since my arrival.”
Sunday’s defeat marked the first time Conte had lost three league games in a row since his days at the helm of Atalanta in November 2009. Tottenham are five points behind fourth-placed West Ham United, although the northern club London has three fewer games than the Hammers. “We need to be realistic and united,” added Conte.
“The fans need to understand in order to be patient, to wait to rebuild again a situation they were used to in the past. We are working hard with the players and there is a great commitment, but it is not enough if we want to be competitive. We have to wait.” .
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