Antonio Conte insists Tottenham don’t need to buy big because they are a small club

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has ridiculed Tottenham as a big club in England by insisting they can get away with not buying expensive players because they expect to win nothing.

Tottenham are yet to sign a single player this summer with Mauricio Pochettino insisting he may not buy any star names.

Pochettino is eager to hand chances to Tottenham’s youth stars, but Conte has insisted Spurs’ attitude shows they do not consider themselves serious contenders in any competition.

Chelsea will defend their Premier League title this season and Conte believes Tottenham have proved they have zero ambition to challenge the Blues.

‘My question is this — What are Tottenham’s expectations?’ asked Conte.

‘If they don’t win the title, it’s not a tragedy.

‘If they don’t arrive in the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy.

‘If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy.

‘If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League and go down against Gent, it is not a tragedy.

‘For Chelsea, Arsenal, City, United and… I don’t know… Liverpool, it is a tragedy.

‘You must understand this. You must understand the status of the team.’

Tottenham were Chelsea’s only serious challengers for much of last season and finished closest to the champions.

But, Spurs have been linked with almost no big names this summer bar the possibility of Everton midfielder Ross Barkley moving to the club.

Right-back Kyle Walker has left the club while Tottenham have rebuffed Manchester United’s advances for their midfielder Eric Dier.

Conte is planning to have his side compete for silverware in Europe as well as at home and says any team with serious ambitions must spend big.

‘Every team has to understand what their ambitions are,’ said Conte.

‘If their ambitions are to win or fight for the title or try to win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players.

‘Otherwise you continue to stay in your level. It’s simple.

‘Now, if you want to compete to fight for the title in England – and there has been a miracle with Leicester and with us, because we won the title with only 13 players – you have to be strong.

‘Tottenham is a really good team, if they are able to keep the same squad as last season.

‘They lost Kyle Walker but they have a structure.

‘To continue another season with the same players is good for the coach. Pochettino is a really good coach.

‘He knows very well the club and the players.

‘But it is important, I repeat, they can work without a lot of pressure. This is the reality.’

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