Tottenham Hotspur suffered a damaging defeat in their hunt for a Champions League qualification place with Aston Villa coming away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a 2-0 win.
Second half goals from Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz handed former Arsenal manager Unai Emery a memorable victory in just his fourth Premier League outing as manager of Villa. Buendia's strike five minutes into the second 45 made it ten games in a row where Spurs have conceded first, however there was no memorable comeback on New Year's Day.
Following Manchester United's win against Wolves, Spurs were pushed out of the top four and securing no points against Villa places Antonio Conte's team two points behind Erik ten Hag's side, who also have a game in hand. When asked whether a top-four finish would be difficult, the Italian laughed before providing a damning response.
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"But for the financial of the club, I continue to repeat that last season we made a miracle, I continue to repeat. It happen why? Because we played only one competition and we play with 12 to 13 players and they didn't have injuries in the last 15 games and we played with best players every game because, I repeat, we played only the league. Don't forget three games to go Arsenal were four points than us and that we finished 20 points less from Manchester City and we did a miracle, but I knew which was the situation.
"People talked about Tottenham as title contenders but in my experience it was a bit crazy to read this. 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.
"And [then] every season you can add two players but two players to invest £50million, £60million, £70million and in this way it means you are signing important players that improve quality and the level of your team but this is a process guys. It's a process.
Although Conte is only entering his third transfer window as Tottenham boss, it is difficult to suggest that he has not been backed. Eight players have arrived since he joined in November 2021 and at least three of those signings have made a significant impact.
Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ivan Perisic have all undoubtedly improved the quality in their respective positions and Conte has overseen the arrival of six players on a permanent basis, with Kulusevski and Clement Lenglet loan signings.
In transfer fees, including potential add-ons, Spurs could end up spending up to £150million on six of those players, with Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster arriving on free transfers in the summer. Following the defeat to Villa, Conte made another interesting claim seemingly aimed at the finances available to other 'big six' clubs, despite the fact the investment in the Tottenham squad since he joined has been far from minimal.
"I continue to work and to improve and to help you to improve the club, to create a solid foundation and then to develop," Conte said when questioned over whether or not he thinks Tottenham supporters are unrealistic in their expectations for this season.
"At the start of the season I was very, very clear with the club. I said 'ok we can be competitive to win but try to continue to improve but in the way that we can do it', because also you have to know that there are clubs who can invest £200million or £300million and others with different policies and I repeat you have to respect the policy.
"The policy has to be very clear with all people otherwise we created a situation that’s not positive for the environment to create expectations that are not realistic, honestly."
Tottenham incomings under Antonio Conte:
Richarlison - £60million
Cristian Romero - £42.5million
Yves Bissouma - £25million (£10million add-ons)
Rodrigo Bentancur – £15.8million (£5.7 million add-ons)
Destiny Udogie - £15million (£6million add-ons)
Djed Spence - £12.5million (£7.5million add-ons)
Dejan Kulusevski - 18-month loan deal £8.3million in total - £2.5million this season and £5.8million next season, plus £29.2million obligation to buy if certain criteria are met
Clement Lenglet – 12-month loan deal - £5million fee
Ivan Perisic – Free transfer
Fraser Forster – Free transfer
Total projected spend in two transfer windows: £242.5million
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