Antonio Conte has stated that only Tottenham can answer if this season will be deemed a success or a failure depending on whether or not the qualify for the Champions League. Struggling in the league at the start of November as they parted with Nuno Espirito Santo and appointed the Italian, Spurs have made massive improvements on the pitch since then to get themselves in top-four contention heading into the final three games.
Victory over Arsenal in the North London Derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening will keep their dreams alive going into the final week of the campaign, while defeat will see the Gunners clinch a return to Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2016/17. Regardless of what happens before the final day at Norwich City, Conte believes that this season has been a "great success" due to the achievements they have reached since taking on the job.
"This is not a question for me, it's a question maybe for the club. I don't know if the club's aspiration at the start was to fight for a place in the Champions League, honestly," the 52-year-old told Sky Sports ahead of the game. "To have only three games to go and to have the possibility to get a place in the Champions League, for us it means we have worked very hard and worked very well with my players.
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"I don't think many people could imagine since my arrival that Tottenham could fight for a place in the Champions League. But with the great work of my players we are in a position where we can fight for a big achievement.
"When I arrived this team was ninth. I don't think the club was targeting a place in the Champions League, maybe in the Europa Conference League or Europa League, but we know very well in England that there is no easy game and to finish the season in a good place is not simple.
"There are many teams… Manchester United finished last season second and added players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane and maybe they can finish sixth or seventh, and you speak about Tottenham failure?
"I think this season is a great success, especially for the relationship created with the players and the achievement we have reached in my time here, but the job isn't finished, we have to finish this job."
