Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte on Friday dismissed reports he will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season to join Paris St Germain if Mauricio Pochettino is sacked.
PSG secured the Ligue 1 title with four games to spare but was knocked out of the French Cup and was eliminated by Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, leading to questions over Pochettino's future.
Italian Conte, who joined Spurs on an 18-month contract in November, is among a handful of names being linked to the top job at the French club.
"Obviously I think it's good that other clubs appreciate my work, but this is one thing," Conte told reporters ahead of their league game against Leicester City.
"The truth is I don't like when people try to invent news, only to speak, only to create problems. This is not right, this is not fair for the clubs involved or for my players.
READ: Ancelotti expects rotations for Real's game that could clinch the title
"This type of situation makes me smile but I think that also the people that want to tell something about this have to show respect for all of the people that are involved in the situation and not invent fake news and tell a lot of lies."
Conte urged Spurs players and fans to shift their focus from the reports to the race for top four and Champions League qualification.
Spurs is fifth in the league standings, with 58 points from 33 games, two behind fourth-placed rival Arsenal. Manchester United is sixth with 55 points and has played two games more than the London clubs.
"In this moment our fans, we need to be focused, we need to be concentrated in an important target," Conte said. "We have a big opportunity to try and get a place in the Champions League.
"We are working very hard, my players know very well that we are really focused, we are speaking a lot about this opportunity.
READ: Wolfsburg women hope for home leg 'miracle' against Barca
"We have to live this situation with passion, enthusiasm and joy. We deserve to fight for a place in the Champions League."
The Spurs boss also provided an update on midfielder Oliver Skipp, who will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery for a groin injury.
"I have spoken to the doctors. They said the surgery was ok and for sure Oliver will be ready for pre-season," Conte said.
"It's a pity and don't forget we lost two players like Skippy and (Japhet) Tanganga from January and to not have two reliable players like them, it's not good to manage this situation. It's not good news."
Spurs hosta 10th-placed Leicester on Sunday.
Comments
SHARE