Conte reveals how Spurs showed they are now a ‘strong team’ in top four race
Antonio Conte has admitted that he was delighted with the response from the Tottenham players against Aston Villa after learning that both Manchester United and Arsenal had lost their games. Spurs went into the clash at Villa Park knowing they had a golden chance to cement their status as favourites to finish in the top […]
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Antonio Conte has admitted that he was delighted with the response from the Tottenham players against Aston Villa after learning that both Manchester United and Arsenal had lost their games.
Spurs went into the clash at Villa Park knowing they had a golden chance to cement their status as favourites to finish in the top four after United fell to a 1-0 loss at Goodison Park while the Gunners fell to a 2-1 loss at home to Brighton earlier in the day.
Despite taking the lead early in the encounter, the Lilywhites were certainly tested, with Steven Gerrard’s men throwing the kitchen sink at them in the first half.
However, Tottenham weathered that storm and blew the Villans away in the second half, with Son Heung-min completing a hat-trick.
That win means that Conte’s men now sit three points ahead of their North London rivals with a vastly superior goal difference.
Conte admitted it would have been easy for his players to take the Villa game as a free hit given that their rivals had dropped points. He applauded them for instead treating it as a must-win game to reach their target.
When asked if Arsenal’s loss was added motivation for his players heading into the game, the Italian told Football.London: “I said this before Arsenal, United and then Wolverhampton and West Ham are with us in the same race for a place in the Champions League.
“To know that your opponent lose their games, and for sure they have to give you the right desire, right will to get three points because in one hand you know our rivals lose the game if we lose, but we are always in the fourth place. A little, medium team can think this.
“A top, strong team think that it is the right moment to improve the distance over your rivals and exploit this situation. We did this despite the difficulty of the game.
“I repeat we didn’t play with a team which is no good. We played against Aston Villa in this stadium, it’s not easy for no one to win here.”
Spurs Web Opinion
What we have seen over the last few weeks is that Arsenal’s young squad has crumbled under pressure while our experienced stars have risen to the occasion at the business end of the season. If we keep up this run, we could seal Champions League qualification well before the North London derby.
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