Antonio Conte claims Tottenham will have pulled off a “miracle” if they qualify for the Champions League.
Conte even insisted if Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had asked him to get into the top four when he took over then he would have replied: “are you joking?”
Tottenham were ninth when Conte took charge last November and were five points off top four and looked to have blown their chances again when Arsenal were four points ahead with just three games to go.
However, Conte’s magic winning touch has instilled a new mentality in the Tottenham squad which should ensure they do not do a “Spursy” and suffer a final day collapse at Norwich.
When asked whether he knew what the term “Spursy” meant, Tottenham boss Conte said: “I am trying to cut this. We have to show on Sunday the development in this aspect.
"I don’t forget in the past what happened, I remember Manchester City in the last game when they were losing against QPR…in England it is not easy. I remember when City lost the FA Cup against Wigan.
“I like to put it on myself big, big targets, not minimal targets. I never said this before but I said we needed a miracle and I said we must fight for a place in the UEFA (Europa League).
“But I said before the last nine games we are ready to fight for a place in the Champions League, we are in this race and I think we now understand that something has changed in everybody.
“I remember very well when I spoke with the club, with Daniel, at that moment the situation wasn’t so good and the club asked me to help them. And to try to find a solution to improve the team in many aspects.
“If you remember, we didn’t score a lot, Harry Kane at that period had scored only goal and we conceded a lot of goals, many, many problems.
“For sure, if he (Levy) had asked me ‘I want to go to the Champions League’, at that moment, to be realistic, I can tell him only one thing…’are you joking?’
“This is the truth because we are talking about England a a situation in this League that is very, very difficult, because there are four top teams. If one of these top teams doesn’t miss the season, it will be very difficult to go inside.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Tottenham finish under Conte next season? Make your prediction here
Tottenham also backed Conte in January by signing Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus and that may also be crucial in persuading the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager to stay for the long term.
Conte added: “In January it’s not simple to listen 100 per cent to your manager and for this reason I want to say thanks because the club believed in what I said, in the situation we have to try to improve - no many things but the right things and I think we did this.
“But I know very well that it’s not simple for the club to make the coach happy, it’s very, very difficult! It was the right case and now to repay the trust of the club, the trust of the players, the trust of fans, makes me happy. But there is the last step to be very, very happy, yeah.
"I am happy and I want to tell thanks for the opportunity to work with this group of players and with this modern club, with these fans, with this atmosphere. It was amazing and for sure make me happy and this is important. If a situation make me happy, it’s important.”
