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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
James Findlater

Antonio Conte admits Tottenham have little chance of beating Manchester United to top four

Antonio Conte has admitted he believes his Tottenham side only have a ‘one per cent’ chance of beating Manchester United to the top four.

Spurs are among United’s challengers for fourth this season, along with Arsenal and West Ham, in a race that looks set to go right down to the wire.

United currently find themselves in the final remaining Champions League spot, although both Spurs and Arsenal hold three games in hand on them.

But while the Gunners have been in decent form and could be well-placed to overhaul Ralf Rangnick's men, Spurs face an uphill task to overhaul the seven-point deficit.

Three straight defeats have seen them miss the chance to take full advantage and overtake United, with a 2-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend seeing Bruno Lage’s side leapfrog them into seventh.

And Conte, who took over in north London in November, has admitted he can say his side’s top four hopes slipping away.

“I’ve always said that I have to feel only one per cent the possibility to win the league,” Conte said in an interview with beIN Sports.

“Here it is strange because maybe I feel the one per cent possibility to finish fourth.

“The level of this league is very high and there is not a lot of space for other teams than the top teams.”

Despite being under contract for another year after this season, Conte’s future at Tottenham has come under question as he’s appeared dissatisfied in recent interviews.

The Italian even admitted in another interview with Sky Sports Italy that his side had become weaker following their business in the January transfer window.

“When you take on a job at a club that hasn’t had success for so long, a lack of confidence is inevitable,” said Conte.

Tell us how far you think United will go in this season’s Champions League below or here

“I could see some situations that could be developed, but then when you are in that situation, you understand it better.

“What happened in January wasn’t straightforward. Four players left the club and they were important ones.

“Two came in, so in numerical terms, instead of strengthening, on paper the squad was weakened.”

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