‘If I do not want to accept this, then I have to go’: Tottenham boss Antonio Conte makes another threat to QUIT as he says he must come to terms with the fact his team cannot challenge for trophies
Antonio Conte admits he must walk away from Tottenham if he cannot come to terms with managing a club still not ready to contest the biggest prizes.
Conte grew accustomed to fighting for league and European titles in coaching roles at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
Spurs hoped his appointment would catapult them to the same level but the 53-year-old Italian, whose contract expires at the end of this season, believes they remain some distance away.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte (pictured) admits he must walk away from the club if he is unable to come to terms with managing a club still not ready to battle for the biggest prizes
A 2-0 loss against Aston Villa on Sunday left Spurs in fifth, 14 points behind bitter rivals Arsenal
‘Here, my task is different,’ said Conte, ahead of Wednesday night’s game at Crystal Palace. ‘My task is to help the club, build a solid foundation, create a base and then to try to improve.
‘This is my challenge here. If you ask me if the challenge is to win the Premier League or the Champions League, this is not the task here in this moment. The task for me is to help the club.
‘When I signed a contract in November 2021, I found the club in a difficult position for many reasons.
The outspoken Italian’s contract expires at the end of the season and Conte could depart
‘I understood my task was to try to help the club go back in the right direction, about the choices of the players, about the work, to organise and to create a foundation.
‘Now if I want to stay here, then I have to accept this. Otherwise, if I do not want to accept this, then I have to go.’
Spurs can extend Conte’s contract by another 12 months but do not want to exercise the clause if the manager is determined to find a new challenge.
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