CONTE:WE’VE EARNED OUR SPURS

Only Antonio’s brilliant big, bad Blue machine could have stopped rivals Tottenham running away with title

ANTONIO CONTE says Spurs would have run away with the title had it not been for his relentless Chelsea team. The Blues tonight host Boro, bidding to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points following Tottenham’s shock defeat at West Ham on Friday. Chelsea could now win the title before Spurs play again as they travel to West Brom on Friday while Mauricio Pochettino’s men host Manchester United next Sunday. But Conte has credited Spurs for being the only team in the Premier League to put any pressure on his side. “If we had not performed the way we have, Tottenham would have won the title without difficulty,” said the Italian. Conte did, however, get in a dig by claiming Chelsea’s task was far more difficult because he has had only one season to reshape his team at Stamford Bridge while Pochettino has been in charge at White Hart Lane for three seasons. “Tottenham have an advantage if you compare them to Chelsea,” he said. “Mauricio Pochettino is a really good manager and is now working with his team for a third year. “Tottenham last season fought to win the title – Chelsea were 10th. You can see our transfer market, and Tottenham’s transfer market. “Tottenham have an advantage if you compare them to us. “This is my first season but Pochettino has been working there for three years and has changed a lot of players. “For me, Tottenham are a really strong team and it’s normal to see them fighting for the title. But, I repeat, Tottenham have the advantage if you compare them to Chelsea.” Conte would not accept that Chelsea’s fixture list has been a huge advantage – Spurs have played eight games more than the Blues due to their European commitments. He added: “Don’t forget that Tottenham dropped out at the first group stage of the Champions League and then dropped out after the first game in the Europa League. “If you consider our games and their games, there is a difference of what, eight games? But if you consider the squads, the numbers in each squad, you can see the difference: one team prepared to play the Champions League with 25 or 26 players, and the other prepared to play the league, the FA Cup and the League Cup.” Even if Chelsea don’t wrap up the title at West Brom on Friday night, their two remaining Premier League fixtures are both at home - to Watford and Sunderland. No wonder bookies make them 100-1 on favourites. They are also 4-7 favourites to lift the FA Cup, playing Arsenal at Wembley on May 27. Conte expects Spurs to be back among the title challengers next season with Pochettino spending big in the transfer market this summer. “My expectation was a great challenge in this league against City, United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool.” he said. “Next season it will be the same. “But we have one year to work and then the possibility to go into the market and choose the right players.”