New Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has declared that he wants other teams to fear his Spurs side.
The Italian tactician who is famed for his high demands at every club is looking to change the fortunes of the north London side after taking over at the club last season following the sack of Nuno Espirito Santo.
When he took over, Spurs were outside of the top six and struggling to perform. But a few months into his reign, the former Inter Milan coach was able to turn the fortunes of the club around, eventually leading them into a top-four finish ahead of a more fancied Arsenal.
Ahead of the new season, the Italian has been putting his team through their paces with difficult exercise drills that have raised a stir. He has also signed six players this summer and is getting ready to disrupt the established order in the Premier League.
Speaking to Sportsmail in a wide-ranging interview, Conte stated that he wants to win the league, a feat that Spurs have not achieved in 61 years.
When asked if he wanted to win the league, the former Chelsea boss said
“You want to win the title.
“Yes, yes, I understand but I am realistic.”
Conte won the Premier League title when he was Chelsea’s boss and also led Juventus and Inter Milan to league titles in Serie A.
“Juventus had for many, many years, created a gap with Inter of more than 20 points,’ said Conte.
“In the first season, we reduced the gap. In the second season, we won but, in Italy, there was only one team to fight.
“Here there are many teams. Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea. Chelsea last year won the Champions League, and this year won the Club World Cup. Don’t forget Manchester United, they are strong, and Arsenal, also, going into the transfer market and spending money.
“It will be a tough season and an exciting season but we have to try to push ourselves and try to improve. To improve in all the situations that can bring us to be competitive shortly.”
“My target is to try to be competitive,’ he added.
“My target is that when the other teams are going to play against Tottenham, they will be not scared but a bit worried. This is our target.
“When I arrived in November, I said that if we wanted to try to go up in the table, we would have to go together, to improve the team together but, at the same time, the players have to go to another level. To grow, grow, grow.
“I think we have a young team. We have many players that can play for Tottenham for three or four years together. We are trying to create a solid foundation, then to go step-by-step to improve and then, in the end, to fight for something important.”
