ANTONIO CONTE CLAIMS THAT TOTTENHAM WERE AHEAD OF CHELSEA AND COULD HAVE EASILY WON THE LEAGUE.

Antonio Conte says Spurs would have run away with the title had it not been for his relentless Chelsea team.

The Blues host Middlesbrough on Monday night, bidding to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points following the north Londoners’ shock defeat at West Ham on Friday.

Chelsea could now go on to win the title before Spurs play again as they travel to West Brom on Friday in what could be the title clincher for the Blues, while Mauricio Pochettino’s men host Manchester United next Sunday.

But Conte has credited Spurs for being the only team in the Premier League to apply any pressure to his side.

He said: “In this season, if Chelsea had not performed in this way, Tottenham would win the title without difficulty.

“Only this great season (from us) is pushing them to fight and, maybe, to win or not to win the title.”

He added: “I must be honest about this topic. I think that Tottenham have an advantage if you compare them to Chelsea.

“Mauricio Pochettino is a really good manager and is now working with his team for a third year.

“Tottenham, last season, fought to win the title - Chelsea arrived 10th. You can see our transfer market, and Tottenham’s transfer market.

“Tottenham, in their project, have an advantage if you compare them to us.

This is my first season and I found a lot of situations, a lot of players.

“Pochettino has been working there for three years and has changed a lot of players, and is working very well.

“For me, Tottenham are a really strong team and it’s normal to see them fighting for the title. But, I repeat, Tottenham’s position for me is more advanced if you compare Tottenham’s to Chelsea.”

Conte rejected the fact that he, in fact, enjoyed an advantage over Spurs as the north Londoners played eight more games that his side before Friday due to their European commitments.

He added: “I don’t know, I don’t know. But don’t forget that Tottenham dropped at the first group stage [of the Champions League] and then dropped in the first game in the Europa League.

“If you consider our games and their games, there is a difference of what, eight games?

“But if you consider the squads, the numbers in each squad, you can see the difference: one team prepared to play the Champions League with 25 or 26 players, and another who prepared to play the league, the FA Cup and the League Cup.”

Conte expects the north Londoners to be back among the title challengers next season with Pochettino set to spend big in the transfer market this summer.

“My expectation was a great challenge in this league against City, United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool.” he said.

“Next season for us it will be the same. But we have one year to work and then the possibility to go into the market and choose the right players on my idea of football.”