Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte has stated that the London club must match his desire if he will be a long-term manager for his side.
The former Inter Milan boss replaced former manager Nuno Espirito Santos at Tottenham and has 18 months on his contract.
He has made it obvious how he feels the London club are far from competing for title.
After Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Chelsea he stated Spurs were a team in the “middle” and were incomparable to their London rivals.
Conte has admitted there is a big rebuilding project at the club and, while he is satisfied with the terms under which he moved to north London, the head coach says Spurs must understand his “vision” to take them back towards the elite.
“I signed a contract for this season and next season,” said Conte. “I think that we decided together, the club and I, to go for this decision.
“I think that I don’t need a long contract to be sure to work for a club. I think that the club has to appreciate my job and then extend my contract, but only if I showed the club I deserve this.
“I’m not a coach that wants many years of a contract. Also it’s not fair, because I know very well I’m a top coach with an important salary for the club.
“I’m open to improve the Tottenham situation and I decided to sign a contract with this club and I’m available to give my opinion, to give my vision and it won’t be a problem for me, a short contract – only one year to go. It’s OK because Tottenham has to be sure 120 per cent to continue to work with me.
“I’m happy to work with this group because they are giving me great availability. But at the same time, you know the club has to know my vision, has to know my opinion about the situation and especially what is our ambition.”
Conte has been surprised at just how big the gap between Spurs and their rivals is, having had the chance to work with his squad for two months, but he insists he is enjoying working with the current crop.
“When I decided to sign with Tottenham, I know what happened recently in the story of the club,” he added ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Morecambe.
“When you arrive at a new club, you have to go into the situation to understand it very well and to know it very well.
“Outside you can only imagine. It’s the same with the players. Outside, you can give an evaluation about a player and then I think when you are the coach of the player and you live with the player day by day, you understand everything about the player and I think it’s the same for me.
“But with the players, I am enjoying my time in Tottenham because I have found a group of players who have shown me a great availability and they show me the will, the desire to improve in many aspects and when you have this type of player you are happy.
“For sure it is good to have training sessions, good to live this situation in Tottenham and have a group of players that wants to follow you and try to improve them and try to create something strong for the present and for the future.
“When you have this type of availability it is easier because when you have good players and a top man it is easier for a coach to do his job.”
Source: Skysports
