Antonio Conte speaks some uncomfortable truth for Spurs fans.
[SWIFT KICKS] The results for Tottenham these past few months haven’t been great. And manager Antonio Conte knows it.
He’s also not afraid to say it.
The 52-year-old has delivered a bruising assessment of where his squad stand, calling it “impossible” for them to reach the top four if they continue to lose games the way they have been.
On Sunday, Spurs suffered their third defeat in a row, losing 2-0 at home to Wolves.
The loss leaves them eighth place in the Premier League, seven points off the top four – even though they have three games in hand over current fourth place team Manchester United.
"I am telling you from my arrival that we have to struggle every game," said Conte to Sky Sports.
"There are a lot of jobs to do but it is not simple because the environment is used to play for Champions League, Europa League, but everyone maybe has to realize something has changed and you have to try to work to build again and we have to know this."
A full release of that interview shows Conte raising even more alarm bells about his Tottenham side, claiming the club is completely different to his previous title-winning sides "in terms of fighting to win".
The Italian also claimed the January transfer window made his side "worse".
Spurs brought in Juventus pair Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur on deadline day but Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani lo Celso left on loan.
Dele Alli also joined Everton on a free transfer and Bryan Gil moved to Valencia.
"What happened in January was not easy," Conte told Sky.
He added: "We lost four players - four important players for Tottenham - and we brought in only two. So even just in terms of numbers, rather than reinforce the squad, we, on paper, may have weakened it."
Despite his alarmist comments, the 52-year-old Conte doesn't appear to be scared about the challenges at Spurs.
Conte admitted his task at Spurs is "a totally different situation" compared to his previous roles "in terms of perspectives, ambitions and in terms of fighting to win".
He added: "Tottenham has been in the middle of the table for so many years. But here this did not scare me".
"I am certainly happy with the way we are working. I think we are doing a lot but I am realizing being inside the situation that it will take time and patience because there are many young players even at their first experience in the Premier League who need to grow, gain experience and raise their level."