Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has admitted that his team are battling for fourth despite only being one point behind Manchester United.
Conte made his prediction following his side's 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Harry Kane, who is Erik ten Hag's top striker target, bagged a first-half brace before Son Heung-Min made it three shortly after the hour mark.
Joe Worrall scored a late consolation but it was not enough to worry the North London club. Following the match, Conte was asked about his team's chances in the race for the Champions League.
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The Italian admitted that, in his opinion, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United - the Reds have two games in hand on Spurs - are already qualified for next season's elite competition. He explained: "Yeah but you know very well the race for a place in Champions League will be really, really tough because you see the competitors.
"You see there are many, many teams involved and I think in this moment there is only one place available because City and Arsenal they are fighting to win the Premier League and United I think they are showing they have great continuity of good results. I think there is one place and there are many teams, many important teams that are in this race.
"We have to try to do our best and for sure I repeat for us to finish in the top four is like to win the Premier League. It happen last season and I spoke about miracle.
"I continue to say maybe this season it be much more difficult, much more difficult because Liverpool is a competitor in this race." Jurgen Klopp's team sits six points behind Spurs with a game in hand after losing 1-0 at AFC Bournemouth in Saturday's early kick-off.
Newcastle United are sixth, seven points behind the North London club but have three games in hand on them. Brighton and Hove Albion are the last team with an outside hope of reaching the Champions League.
Roberto De Zerbi's side are seventh, nine points behind Tottenham but they also have three games in hand on them.
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