Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte urges key stars to step up in top-four hunt
Speaking ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion (h/t Evening Standard), Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has urged his senior and key players to keep the pressure on finishing in the fourth spot.
Spurs currently sit in eighth place in the league table, six points off of fourth-placed Arsenal, who have played one game fewer than them. Between the two teams lie Manchester United, West Ham United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers who are also looking for a top-four finish by the summer.
Although he was asked about Harry Kane‘s future based on Champions League qualification, Conte deflected the original question and instead urged his other key stars like Son Heung-Min and Hugo Lloris to step up their top-four chase.
“Harry is a really, really important player for us. If you want to have a hope to fight until the end for this type of target, this is the moment I have to ask a lot to the big players. To Harry, Hugo and Sonny. These players have to lead the situation to keep us until the end there. “
All three players were last seen in Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to United last weekend at Old Trafford, which have dented their UCL qualification hopes. Both teams are vying for the same goal at the end of the season, and the Red Devils took one step closer to achieving it by winning the crucial tie.
“Experience and big talent”
Despite the loss at Old Trafford, Spurs have an advantage over other top-four chasing teams like Man United, West Ham, and Wolves as the Lilywhites have two games in hand over these other teams to try and make up the deficit in the league table.
Conte said that in order to do so and push for Champions League football next season, he has to call upon players in the squad who have experience and talent to give it their all for the team until the summer.
“At the moment, experience is very important. We don’t have a lot of experience in this team and it’s right to ask the players with experience and big talent to give everything.”
The first step to achieving their top-four ambitions this term is for Tottenham to win tonight’s game against Brighton. The Seagulls have been largely impressive this season in the league, taking points off big teams.
From here on in, Conte will need his team to win every game possible in order to boost their chances of finishing fourth. Every game needs to be treated like a final, and with games in hand, it is important not to be complacent.
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The Italian had earlier mentioned that his squad needs to stay close and fight until the end to realise their ambitions, and urged his side to take advantage of United’s inconsistencies this term. It had presented as a welcome package for the club in the race for the final European spot.
Conte has often repeated the importance of fighting and staying close and encouraging his big names to step up, and it is up to the players to help their boss guide them to glory by taking on his advice and messages. Hopefully, it starts tonight against Graham Potter’s side.
