CONTE MAYBE A MAGICIAN AFTER CASTING HIS SPELL OVER SPURS

ANTONIO CONTE has cast his spell over Tottenham less than six months after claiming “I’m no magician.”

The Italian coach made the comment back in November after their humiliating Europa Conference League defeat to Slovenian minnows Mura – one of the lowest-ranked teams in the competition.

By then the north Londoners had appointed Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked the ex-wolves boss, courted Conte (right), balked at his demands, landed him after Manchester United turned him down then watched as he delivered a damning verdict on the state of the squad.

But since then Conte’s team has left United embarrassed, Arsenal crushed and are now just a win away – at already-relegated Norwich – from clinching a Champions League place.

Harry Kane is back to being the striker Pep Guardiola wanted to take to Manchester City last summer. Heung-min Son remains a forward capable of playing in any team in the world. Behind them the remarkable improvement of players such as Emerson Royal, Matt Doherty and Ben Davies, combined with the confidence Ryan Sessegnon has found has been hugely impressive.

The fitness of the players has vastly improved, along with a change in mentality.

Defeat for bitter rivals Arsenal at Newcastle on Monday has left Spurs as masters of their own top-four destiny heading into Sunday’s finale. They are light years away from the consistency, quality and depth at

Liverpool and City.

But Juventus were seventh when they hired Conte in 2011, 24 points behind champions Milan. A year later they lifted the title and retained it.

Twice. Chelsea were 10th, 31 points behind champions Leicester when he arrived in 2016. A year later they, too, were champions.

Conte may just have another trick up his sleeve.