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Antonio Conte has aimed a brutal dig at former side Tottenham for lacking ambition and viewing Champions League qualification as ‘the same’ as winning the Premier League.
The Italian is a perennial winner and has lifted league titles with Chelsea, Napoli, Juventus and Inter Milan.
The 55-year-old last month led Napoli to Serie A victory, for only the second time in 33 years.
But despite his trophy-ladden managerial career he was was unable to end Spurs’ trophy drought during his 16-month stint in north London.
Rather it was Ange Postecoglou who delivered a stunning Europa League win to give Tottenham their first piece of silverware in 17 years.
Just 16 days later the Australian was sacked by chairman Daniel Levy and the board and has since been replaced by Thomas Frank from Brentford.
Napoli’s Antonio Conte has aimed a brutal dig at former side Tottenham for lacking ambition
Conte is a perennial winner but was unable to end Spurs’ trophy drought in his 17-month stint
Spurs won the Europa League last month to lift their first trophy since the 2008 League Cup
Conte qualified for the Champions League with Spurs in his debut season at the club after they finished fourth in 2022.
But he left in the middle of his second campaign after launching a remarkable attack on the club’s culture and calling his players ‘selfish’.
Conte, fresh from becoming the first manager to lift the Serie A title at three different clubs, was quick to take another jab at his former side, claiming he views success ‘very differently’.
‘I arrived at Tottenham in November with the team ninth in the table, in the first year we beat Arsenal to the Champions League spot. For Tottenham, you must understand, qualifying for the Champions League is practically the same as winning the Premier League title,’ he told Sky Italia.
‘I remember at the end of the game with Norwich, there were celebrations in the dressing room. I called my staff over and told them, we’d better not get used to this sort of celebration, meaning we shouldn’t be celebrating Champions League qualification as if it was the Premier League title.
‘We were accustomed to celebrating for very different things.’
Conte’s criticism of Spurs’ culture were echoed by Jose Mourinho last month, who blasted Levy for prioritising Champions League qualification to trophies.
Following their Europa League win, Mourinho said: ‘The impact is obvious, Tottenham plays Champions League and of course for Mr Levy, the millions that the Champions League gives for him is the best news.’
Antonio Conte last month became the first manager to win Serie A with three different clubs
Postecoglou led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years by winning the Europa League last month
Jose Mourinho, who managed Tottenham for 16 months, has also hit out at the club’s culture
‘For the fans, for the players, for Ange, it’s a title.’
Mourinho, who managed Tottenham for 17 months, has previously hit out at Levy for the nature of his departure.
‘The most ridiculous one was a club that has an empty trophy room sacks me two days before a final,’ he said. ‘That was the one that was… come on,’ he said.
‘Tottenham have never won for 50 years. I don’t remember when. I am two days before a final and I couldn’t do the final. It’s the one which doesn’t smell well.’
