Antonio Conte’s comments about ‘fighting’ for Champions League that will excite Tottenham fans

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says his team will put up a fight to ensure they secure Champions League football next season.

Spurs and Arsenal are throwing punches for the right to secure the final ticket for Wednesday night football.

Arsenal had looked set to take it when Spurs were stuttering earlier in the season, but a quick turn of fortunes saw the Gunners lose three games on the spin and Spurs close in on them.

As things stand, both teams are on the same points after Mikel Arteta’s men stormed Stamford Bridge and took all three points against Chelsea.

Both teams are locked in on 57 points, but Spurs currently occupy fourth just by virtue of their superior goal difference of plus 18 while the Gunners have plus 10.

Most people believe that the North London derby, scheduled for May 12, will ultimately determine who plays on Wednesday and who plays on Thursday next season, but the Italian manager is assuring his fans that Spurs will be ready for the fight.

Conte said: “I want to try to stay until the end because we know the difficulty very well.

“I don’t think Chelsea can go in this race because Chelsea is, in my opinion, at a different level.

“They are there because they missed some games, but they must stay in this race.

“We have to fight with Arsenal, who showed yesterday to be in good form, with Man United, West Ham and also there is Wolverhampton.”

With just seven games left to end the season, Tottenham will travel to the Brentford Community Stadium to take on the Bees knowing very well that they can’t afford to slip up.

While Arsenal will welcome Manchester United, who were thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool and looking for a response at the Emirates Stadium.