Conte fully aware he is facing a ‘big challenge’ at Tottenham

New Tottenham boss Antonio Conte admits he has a “big, big challenge” ahead to make the club successful.

Conte has taken over from Nuno Espirito Santo and will be charged with trying to get Spurs challenging for honours and Champions League qualification again.

He got an early insight into exactly what life at Spurs is currently like during his first game in charge on Thursday,

where Spurs were 3-0 up against Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa Conference League, but ended up hanging on to a 3-2 victory.

Spurs were Conte’s main rivals when he was at Chelsea, winning the Premier League title ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s side, but he knows there is a long road ahead to get to that level.

He has the infrastructure in place, with the new stadium and an impressive training ground, but again reiterated that it is time for the team to catch up.

The Italian said: “This is a big challenge. A big, big challenge. I know very well that this club is not winning for many years. But I think I’m here to build the win. The win doesn’t happen after one, two or three days or one month. You must have vision.

“This club has a great vision outside of the pitch. Now we have to start having a vision on the pitch, on the football pitch. This is important if we want to win.”

Conte was handed an 18-month deal with the optiontoextend,whichishardly a long-term deal.

But the 52-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Inter Milan in the summer, is not concerned about that.

“I think my contract is not a problem, 18 months and we decided,” he said. “I understood also the sacrifices this club did for me.

“It’s OK but I think that the best things for us is to work together with the players, with the club and to understand that we can work together for a long time. I hope so.

“Because I think this club if you want to work, you can work. You have a fantastic training ground and the club gives you everything – if we ask for something to improve the situation of the players.

“At the same time, I know that we need to have patience. But the contract is OK for me and my hope is to find the right condition with this club for a long time, for sure.”