Tottenham's Conte blasts crazy expectations

LONDON : Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte claims last year's top-four finish in the Premier League was 'a miracle' and said pre-season expectations of a title tilt were ludicrous.

Speaking after a Sunday's dismal 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa that left Tottenham in fifth place, 13 points behind leaders Arsenal, the Italian offered a dose of harsh reality.

"Last season we made a miracle," Conte, who took charge in November 2021 and rejuvenated the team, told reporters.

"Because we played only one competition, and we played with 12 or 13 players and they didn't have injuries in the last 15 games, we played with our best players every game because, I repeat, we played only the league.

"Don't forget with three games to go Arsenal were four points ahead of us and that we finished 20 points less from Manchester City and we did a miracle, but I knew the situation."

Tottenham were booed off on Sunday as they barely managed a shot at Villa's goal. In mitigation they were without the creative spark of Dejan Kulusevski who was injured and Brazilian forward Richarlison who was also unavailable.

Rodrigo Bentancur was also out and Tottenham's squad looks short of the depth to sustain a challenge for a top-four finish and in the Champions League in which they are in the last 16.

"I remember very well in the summer, at the start, people talked about Tottenham as title contenders but in my experience it was a bit crazy to read this," he said.

"To become a title contender, to become a team ready to fight to win something you need to have a solid foundation. That means to have 14 or 15 strong players, quality and the other young players to develop."

Conte will seek squad strengthening in the transfer window but whether he gets it is another