Listening to Antonio Conte, you'd be forgiven for thinking Tottenham are a lower league side preparing to face Manchester City in the FA Cup.
Conte told Italian media that Spurs lack character, experience and are weaker after the January transfer window. He said his side need time to implement ideas and effectively ruled them out of the top-four race.
Then, in another interview, he said City would expose the difference in quality between the two sides, saying: "In this game you understand the distance, the gap that you have with the other - but you want to play without fear - also because I repeat we are in a moment that we have to go through this situation if we want to have another step and the game against City we know it could be very tough.'
