Antonio Conte has opened up on his hopes for Tottenham in the Champions League ahead of their first clash against Marseille. Spurs have already started well in the Premier League, with four wins and two draws.
Now it is time for them to replicate these results in Europe, in the competition they haven't played in since they lost the final during the 2018/19 campaign. Conte has won league titles with Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan, while Tottenham are hoping he can be the manager to end their 14-year trophy drought.
The Italian doesn't have the greatest record in Europe but is aiming to change that this season, with Conte clearly setting his hopes high. "My ambition there is the will to have success in Europe. I know very well is difficult but at same time I have this ambition," he said, in his pre match press conference.
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The 53-year-old was asked if Italian managers focus more on the leagues, than Europe. "No, I don't think because we have Carlo Ancelotti and he lift Champions League with a lot of teams. Milan, Real Madrid, Milan really top team. I remember final lost when he was at Milan."
Ancelotti is someone Conte knows very well and he spoke on the final he lost against him, in 2003. "Was my last final in my career played at Manchester United and finished 0-0," he explained.
"I hit crossbar with a header and was unlucky. Lost with penalties. Ancelotti previous season was at Juventus and then change and went be coach with Milan and I think he had big big revenge."
Spurs will first face Marseille in their Champions League group, a team who are also unbeaten in their first six Ligue 1 games, so it will be a tough game for the Lilywhites. Their boss, Igor Tudor, is also someone Conte knows well and he had a key message for the Croatian ahead of the match.
"Igor is a friend and we play together at Juve for many years. Really good guy," he said. "Really happy to see him on the bench in an important club in Europe. He's doing a really good job, he likes to work a lot and his team has an idea very clear and I wish him all best for him and Marseille apart from two games against us."
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