Antonio Conte says ‘every game has to be a final’ for Tottenham as the club look to secure a top four finish this season.
Spurs have moved into the Champions League places after a run of six wins from seven Premier League games, sitting three points clear of Arsenal having played a game more than their North London rivals.
The club’s impressive form has raised optimism that Spurs can secure Champions League football for next season, though Conte has warned his side that they can not let up across the run-in.
Spurs travel to face Brighton on Saturday lunchtime and Conte says his team must treat each of their remaining games as if it were a final.
“I say to you with honesty that the team is ready to fight until the end, the race is not easy, but it’s very important to finish in top four in England, reach a good result for the club,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“Two days ago we watched how important and how fascinating it is to play Champions League and these type of games. In my players there is a great desire to be protagonists in this competition, there are other teams in the same race that are very strong, we want to fight until the end and we will see what happens at the end of the season.
“The last 10 games in league are very important. Every game has to be a final. The importance of the game brings more pressure but that has to be normal for a club like Tottenham, we have to cope in this way and also to try to be good in all aspects because now is a good moment for us, showing that we are coping very well with this pressure and with this desire to stay in this race.”
Spurs have spent two seasons outside of the Champions League and Conte spoke further on the importance of a return to Europe’s elite, a competition he insists that every club, player, and manager wants to be a part of,
“It is a competition that every club/player/manager wants to play, for this reason, it’s important to have this great goal, it changes your life, this situation has to give us a great push and a great desire to finish the season in the best possible way.”
