Antonio Conte has admitted it will be 'much more difficult' for Spurs to finish in the top four this season because Newcastle United are a 'competitor' with a 'strong team'.
Spurs are currently four points clear of Newcastle in fourth place, but Conte's side have played two more games than the Magpies. Spurs also still have to go to St James' Park next month having lost the reverse fixture in the capital earlier this season.
Although Newcastle only returned to winning ways last week, following a 2-1 victory against Wolves, Spurs have not exactly taken full advantage; Conte's side have won five of their last nine games but also suffered four defeats in that time. With sixth-placed Liverpool also in the mix, Conte knows Spurs face a fight to qualify for the Champions League.
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"The race for a place in the Champions League will be really tough because you see the competitors," the Spurs boss told reporters. "You see there are many teams involved and I think, in this moment, there is only one place available because [Man] City and Arsenal are fighting to win the Premier League and [Manchester] United are showing they have a 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, I repeat, for us to finish in the top four is like winning the Premier League. It happened last season and I spoke about a miracle.
"Maybe this season it will be much more difficult because Liverpool is a competitor in this race. Newcastle is a competitor, but Newcastle is a different Newcastle to the past. They invest a lot of money and they have a strong team."
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