The Chelsea manager has major headaches going into tomorrow’s crunch London derby against Tottenham at Wembley, with injuries and suspensions wrecking his squad, and the ongoing row with rebel striker Diego Costa overshadowing everything at Stamford Bridge.
Conte admits his team were “lucky” to win the title last year because they were not in Europe and had so few injuries, and insists Maurico Pochettino’s steadily improving Spurs have the better foundation for long-term success.
Conte has admitted he needs more new players this summer, and last night he said: “We need time here.
“Maybe four years, to arrive and try to fight for the Champions League. To try to fight to be the best in the world, you need time.
“Spurs started to work with Pochettino three years ago, this is the fourth year. He has had the possibility to work for three years with the same players and every season improve his foundations. For every coach it’s important to give continuity to a club.
“Last year we did a fantastic season because there wasn’t this foundation or base. We started to build this foundation and we won so it means we built something.
“But it’s not enough. We have to improve, extend this base, work with new players. Tottenham are doing this very well.”
Asked then why he did not extend his contract in the summer, instead only agreeing to a pay rise to £9m a year but no extension, Conte said: “I still have two years, this season and next, to work with the club.
“Then if we stay very well and have the same vision, we will continue. I don’t see any problems about the future. I am staying at the right club at this point of my career.
“I have the vision to work, sometimes slowly, to try to build something important. But if you ask me how long this path is, my answer is – we need time.
“I like to be positive. Last season we started on a difficult path. Despite this we won the title in my first season. It was incredible. No one put a gun to my head and said, ‘You win or you go away’.
“The only thing I can promise is work, work, work and that I will try to do my best to improve the club.”
New £40m midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is expected to start on Sunday, with Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas both suspended, as well as new striker Alvaro Morata.
