Antonio Conte has bluntly told Tottenham fans that the team’s shortcomings cannot be resolved during this month’s transfer window.
Speaking at his post-match press conference after Spurs’ Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat against his former club Chelsea, Conte admitted the game summed up the difference between the two sides.
And he warned that he will not be able to simply sign players in the coming weeks and solve the problems.
“They are fantastic the way they support us, but at the same time I want to tell the truth with our fans,” he said.
“I want to be very clear: if we think that with the transfer window in January we will sort the situation, I would be telling you a lie. There is a lot of a job to do.”
It was an unhappy return to Stamford Bridge for Conte, who gave a no-nonsense assessment of the north London side’s problems.
“We struggled a lot against Chelsea. They showed to be much stronger than us,” he said.
“For sure you have to be disappointed, but on the other hand you have to understand there is an important difference and I know this.
“This game confirmed what I thought about the difference between the teams.”