Tottenham v Sporting Lisbon, 8pm, BT Sport 3
says know how vital it is for them to sign ‘important players’ in the January transfer window, as his side look to extend their interest in the .
Spurs host tonight knowing victory in the Group D fixture would send them through to the last-16 stage.
Tottenham enter the match following back-to-back defeats and with injuries piling up, which saw the Italian quizzed about whether a busy January could be key to a strong second half of the season.
Conte said: ‘I think the club understand very well the importance of bringing in important players, good players, in January. I’m not the person who has to explain this to my club.
‘If you ask me in January what happens when we have to play many other games, we will have to try to do our best.
‘I repeat we have to take this big achievement of going to the next round tomorrow and take this opportunity to do it.
‘My priority now is not January but to finish in the best possible way before the World Cup.’
Conte has spoken about the journey the club are on to become a genuine contender at home and in Europe. It was put to the 53-year-old Spurs have an opportunity this season with Chelsea and Manchester United under new management and in transition. But Conte refuted that notion and turned down the chance to speak about his own long-term plans.
‘We have to focus on the present,’ he added. ‘This season will be more difficult than last season because after the transfer market you have seen many, many teams have spent a lot. For sure there will be the time to speak with the club. To understand what is the best solution.
‘Since November now and after one year I understood a lot of things. The first moment for me was really difficult to understand.
‘Now I am going into the Tottenham world. I understand very well what our situation is, what is our position, what is our starting point, how long is our path to be competitive and to fight for something important. Now my knowledge about Tottenham is more complete.’
Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sat out training yesterday but both have an outside chance of featuring tonight.
, .
, and .
