Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has admitted that a top four finish could now be “impossible” after Spurs’ embarrassing 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Sunday.
First half goals from Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker put Bruno Lage’s side in control at the Hotspur stadium and condemned them to a third consecutive loss in the Premier League.
The latest loss puts Spurs in a bit of jeopardy as Conte admits their top four hopes could be impossible.
“When you lose two games in a row at home and a previous game against Chelsea, a team that wants to fight for the Champions League, [it] is impossible,” he told Sky Sports in his post-match interview.
Conte comes under pressure at Spurs to finish in the top four after spearheading a mini overhaul in the January transfer window.
The Italian brought in the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski while letting the likes of Giovanni Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Bryan Gil and Dele Alli leave the club.
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However, Conte was quick to point out that the club could buy players but cannot buy a winning mentality.
“The problem is that you cannot buy the winning mentality. You transfer it day by day and [you are] not sure that day by day, because there are players that are more open and they understand the process quickly, other players need more time to understand this.
“Winning mentality in my opinion means when you play, [thinking] ‘I am ready to kill you and to live’. This is the difference in every duel, every second ball, every set-piece.”
The honeymoon period seems to be well and truly over for Conte who enjoyed an unbeaten streak of nine games in the league after taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo late last year.
Since then, he has had his side knocked out of the League Cup by Chelsea, and suffered three league defeats on the spin.
This is the second time Spurs have lost three league games in a row this season having endured the same feat under former manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Tottenham now sit in eight place with 36 points from 22 games. All hope is not lost however as they have three games in hand on fourth placed West Ham who have 41 points.
Spurs will travel to the Etihad to face league leaders Manchester City on Saturday February 19 as they look to stop the rot.
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