Martin Keown has explained why Antonio Conte could be the difference between Tottenham finishing fourth and failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham are also in the mix for the final place in next season’s competition, but the former Gunners defender believes the experience of Conte could trump Mikel Arteta’s efforts.
“In this feverish top-four fight, Tottenham will feel they have a real advantage over their rivals and that’s because of Antonio Conte and his record,” he wrote in the Mail.
“In Conte they have a coach who has won titles for every major club he has managed — five in total with Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan — and knows what it takes to qualify for the Champions League.
“Throughout his management career he has been incredibly open with the media. He was honest about Tottenham’s huge inconsistencies as they went from one extreme to the other by beating Manchester City then losing to Burnley.
“But now, they’ve won four of their last five league games and Conte looks fired up for this run-in.”
Spurs face Newcastle on Sunday before an as-yet unscheduled north London derby, after the initial matchday was postponed due to an Arsenal Covid outbreak. Arteta’s men face Crystal Palace on Monday.
And Keown added: “Looking at their remaining fixtures, Tottenham have the most inviting run-in, although it is surprising that the Premier League have not confirmed a date for the postponed derby with Arsenal from January 16.
“The longer they take, the more it feels like they are exploiting the situation by trying to turn that match into a box-office battle for fourth towards the end of the season — and that concerns me.”
