Antonio Conte believes his Tottenham players were "scared" during their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday evening.
The Red Devils won at Old Trafford thanks to second-half goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes. The result has made a big impact on the Premier League table, as United are now just one point behind Chelsea in fourth after their goalless draw against Brentford.
Tottenham, meanwhile, find themselves four points behind leaders Arsenal having played a game more. Conte's side are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the Gunners and title favourites Manchester City, and they are also looking over their shoulders.
Chelsea, United and Liverpool all have games in hand on Spurs. Assuming all three teams win those fixtures, Graham Potter's side will move level on points them, Erik ten Hag's team will go just a point behind and Jurgen Klopp's outfit will move within four points.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Conte said: "We have to be honest and say that United deserved to win. From the start they showed much more than us.
"I try to analyse after the game with my players because I like to be really honest and in this season we have struggled a lot every time we have played games at a high level, against Chelsea, Arsenal and United. It means we must continue to work and to improve ourselves and to see if it is enough to play at this high level.
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"There is only one way to try to work. The approach of the game, we were a bit scared and we showed this. I do not like this. The table is good for us but in our mind and the mind of our players we need the ambition to play this game in a different way, with more personality, to not miss stupid passes.
"In my experience, in my career I have seen you can improve a lot until the last day you finish your career. My players and myself, we can improve a lot. We need to be humble and to continue to work and show this level is also for us."
Spurs haven't won a trophy since their League Cup triumph back in 2008. In fact, they've won just two League Cups since their last FA Cup triumph in 1991.
But Conte has been heavily backed to get the side into the Premier League title mix. There is a belief that he is the person to end their long wait, having previously won four Serie A titles as a manager.
Conte has also won silverware in England, lifting the Premier League title and FA Cup during a two-year spell at Chelsea. That was a turbulent spell, however, which suggests his time at Tottenham could be short. If so, Spurs fans would like it to be sweet, however their loss at Old Trafford was anything but.
