LONDON, May 6, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Antonio Conte said he would have no
hesitation in committing his long-term future to Tottenham if he were given
the same backing that Jurgen Klopp has enjoyed at Liverpool.
Conte agreed an 18-month contract when he took over from the sacked Nuno
Espirito Santo in November, but the Italian has continually refused to pledge
his long-term future to Tottenham.
He recently revealed that his future would be decided after an end-of-season
meeting with chairman Daniel Levy and football managing director Fabio
Paratici.
Conte, whose Tottenham team are fighting for a top-four spot in the Premier
League, has been linked with French champions Paris Saint-Germain but last
week he described the speculation as "fake news".
Ahead of Tottenham's match against quadruple-chasing Liverpool on Saturday,
Conte said the key factor in his future would be whether the club was able to
match his ambition and give him the tools to challenge for the league title.
Klopp, given time and hefty backing in the transfer market, has turned the
fortunes of Liverpool around since joining the club in 2015.
Asked at his pre-match press conference whether Spurs were in a similar
position now to where Liverpool were when Klopp took over, Conte said: "I
don't know but if I was sure this type of situation can happen, I sign, you
understand?
"But also the time for Liverpool was easier than now because when Liverpool
started this work with Jurgen, they were a top team but not in a way they are
now -- so consolidated with an important manager, always the same team, big
investment, big money spent on the transfer market."
Conte, who has won league titles with Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan, said
spending big money was vital.
"To reduce this gap, you need to spend a lot of money because you need to buy
important players," he said.
"You have to know this otherwise you cannot reduce this gap and hope always
for a miracle."
Tottenham challenged for the Premier League and Champions League under former
manager Mauricio Pochettino -- now in charge of PSG -- but they have slipped
down the pecking order in recent seasons.
Conte said Liverpool were an example of how to build a top-quality team.
"You need time," he said. "I think in these seven months we did a really good
job with the club and the opportunity we had also in January to sign two good
players for us (Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur) to help us, to
improve the quality of the team.
"I think we did a good job but, for sure, you need time. Liverpool is a clear
example."