Antonio Conte has replied to Daniel Levy’s recent comments over some Premier League clubs’ ‘unsustainable spending’ by pointing out how Mauricio Pochettino’s side have less expectations on their heads compared to other top teams.
After the Spurs chairman’s latest comments, which have come out in defence of Pochettino not exactly leaping into the transfer market with both feet this summer, Conte has questioned what expectations Arsenal’s north London rivals have on them compared to the other top Premier League teams.
“If [Spurs] don’t win the title, it’s not a tragedy,” said Conte [via BBC].
“If they don’t arrive in the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy. If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League, it’s not a tragedy.
“Maybe for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and – I don’t know – Liverpool, it is a tragedy. You must understand the status of the team.
“Every team has to understand what their ambitions are. If their ambitions are to fight for the title or win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players. Otherwise you continue to stay in your level. It’s simple.”
“My question is this: What are Tottenham’s expectations?”
Last season, Spurs dropped from the Champions League to the Europa League after finishing third in their group behind Bayer Leverkusen (2nd) and Monaco (1st).
They then went on to get knocked out of the Europa League in the round of 32 by Jupiler Pro League minnows, Gent (3-2 agg.).
Despite this, Levy believes Pochettino is right to keep his purse strings well and truly drawn. Although this was before they lost 3-2 to Roma in pre-season and Poch’ got banished to the stands.
“We have a duty to manage the club appropriately,” said the Spurs chairman [via BBC].
“Some of the activity that is going on at the moment is just impossible for it to be sustainable.
“Somebody spending £200m more than they’re earning, eventually it catches up with you. And you can’t keep doing it.”
In spite of their disappointing showing in Europe and lack of silverware last season, Spurs were lauded because they finished second in the Premier League and looked like a pretty well organised team.
Arsenal, on the other hand, were once again ridiculed mercilessly for getting knocked out Europe’s top competitions by five-time winners, Bayern Munich, in the final 16. Again.
As Conte points out, this is because Arsene Wenger’s side have more expectations on them than Spurs. For Spurs, finishing in second and putting pressure on Chelsea at the top was an achievement. However, the Gunners should be doing this every season without breaking a sweat, which perhaps highlights why many believe that Arsenal have been underachieving over the last decade.
Premier League summer transfer spending goes past £900m. Already second biggest window ever; 37 days remaining.
Spurs yet to spend a penny. pic.twitter.com/uSXPvlUysa— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) July 25, 2017
So far, according to the BBC, £850m has been spent by top clubs this summer. At least £130m of this has been spent by Chelsea, Spurs have coughed up nothing, and Arsenal’s only expenditure so far has been £52m for Alexandre Lacazette.
Is spending out of control or, as the Chelsea manager suggests, is this just a price the top clubs have to pay in order to truly compete?