Conte Makes Premier League Top Four Prediction for Tottenham

• Antonio Conte helped Tottenham to a top four finish last season despite joining mid-season
• They are once again battling for a top four finish this season but Conte admits it'd be harder than last season
• Spurs will kick open the Premier League in 2023 with a clash at home to Aston Villa

Italian manager Antonio Conte is a serial winner who has won trophies in every club he has managed since his career came to life with Juventus where he won three straight Serie A titles.

He guided Tottenham Hotspur to a fourth place finish last season ahead of rivals Arsenal despite being appointed mid season, after the sacking of former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

The former Chelsea boss has now admitted it will be more difficult for his side to secure Champions League football for next season than it was last season, as more teams are moving up the table.

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The Lily-whites currently sit fifth on 30 points after 16 games, two points behind fourth placed Manchester United and 13 points behind league leaders Arsenal.

Conte admits Tottenham must fight

The former Inter Milan boss speaking to Football London, acknowledged the presence of Saudi-backed Newcastle United in the race for European places, which brings difficulty and competition in the league.

''This season will be really, really difficult for many clubs. For all the clubs to finish top four, to finish in the Europe zone. Now arrives the difficulty for us, there is Newcastle, another club that is growing year by year to become a title contender, a real danger for the Premier League title,'' he said.

Conte showed respect for today's opponents, Aston Villa by saying they are contenders for top four under new manager Unai Emery.

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''For top four, (there are) other clubs also like Aston Villa. I think it will be very, very difficult for this reason. We have to know this. I’m trying to push my players to understand that this season will be much more difficult than last season. That we have to try to continue to improve, to push ourselves.'' he added.

Kulusevski reveals Conte's tireless demands

Sports Brief earlier reported that Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski revealed Conte's demands in training after their draw against Brentford.

The Swedish winger claimed the Italian pushed the team even harder in training as they prepare for their first match of 2023 later today against Aston Villa.

Kulusevski is on loan in England from Juventus and the club retains an option of making the deal permanent if some conditions are met.