sport news Tottenham: Daniel Levy MUST back Antonio Conte if they are to keep him and ... trends now

As the clock hit minute 76 at Carrow Road on the final day of the Premier League season, all appeared to be right in the world of Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs were celebrating a fifth goal against Norwich while Son Heung-min had just scored his 23rd of the season – of which none were penalties – to see him earn his first Premier League Golden Boot, an honour he would share with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.

In the grand scheme of things, Spurs were minutes away from securing Champions League football for next season – an incredible feat achieved by Antonio Conte given what he walked in to when Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked back in November.

During Nuno's short and woeful reign at Spurs, the team had no identity. 

Before his sacking, Spurs had been beaten heavily by each of their London rivals and were struggling to muster even a shot on goal, while a despondent Harry Kane led the line after an attempt to force through a move to Manchester City fell apart. 

It all looked very bleak in that area of north London.

But just over six months later, Spurs are back in the big time after a two-year absence, preparing to rub shoulders with Europe's elite once again, having taken the third-most points in the league since Conte was appointed.

The players and manager celebrated together on the Carrow Road pitch after the full-time whistle, with Conte gesturing that his players should get the adulation, but just like the rest of the season, the Tottenham fans just sang and sang the Italian's name.

Conte has become a fan favourite in such a short space of time and the desire for Spurs to go forward under him is universally wanted by Tottenham supporters.

But as the dust settled on the 2021-22 campaign, the niggling anxiety that Conte may not even be at Tottenham next season lingered as he refused to commit to the job, given that he wants assurances that he will be backed this summer and his title-winning ambitions matched going forward.

While Conte insisted that securing Champions League football at Tottenham was one of his 'biggest achievements' as a manager, he insisted that it will all be in vain if there are a lack of reinforcements by the time the new season comes around.

He said: 'But it is very important to not forget the path that we had to try to improve the situation because we need to improve the situation, next season for sure, there are five substitutions (per match), another competition and Tottenham must understand this, that it will be very difficult, maybe much more than this season.

'Today is not the right time to speak about this topic. Today is really important to celebrate this big achievement but for sure to become competitive and be ready to fight for something important you need to improve, improve a lot in many aspects and I know only one word, that is work, work, work.

'Everybody has to do the right path in this process. We need to improve a lot. Next season the league will be very difficult for all the teams.

'With five subs you can change a game. If the bench is strong like a top team, like City, Chelsea, (Manchester) United and Liverpool, you need to improve a lot your squad in quality aspect and numerical aspect.

'You have to face in England three national competitions and one in the Champions League.'

And it's not just the fans who are desperate for Conte to be backed and will stick around – Tottenham's players want it too. 

Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane, and Eric Dier have all revealed their desire for the club to spend, as they look to make good on finally returning to the Champions League.

The players want Conte to build a team that can compete on four fronts and challenge for silverware next season.

'I think the club needs to take advantage of this moment, take advantage of this team and this manager. It's in the club's hands now,' Dier said.

'We've done our job and now it's the club's job this summer to do the best work

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