Antonio Conte has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur do not belong in the top tier of Premier League teams after claiming that failure is not as much of a "tragedy" to them as it is to some other clubs.
Spurs were runners up to Conte's Chelsea in the Premier League last term, were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages, and again fell at the first hurdle in the last 32 of the Europa League.
The North Londoners are yet to make a signing in the current transfer window, with owner Daniel Levy defending the lack of progress by saying the board has a duty to manage the club appropriately and hitting out at "unsustainable spending".
Conte, whose Blues have spent £119m so far this summer, told BBC Sport: "If [Spurs] don't win the title, it's not a tragedy.
"If they don't arrive in the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League, it's not a tragedy.
"Maybe for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and - I don't know - Liverpool, it is a tragedy. You must understand the status of the team. Every team has to understand what their ambitions are.
"If their ambitions are to fight for the title or win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players. Otherwise you continue to stay in your level. It's simple. My question is this: What are Tottenham's expectations?"
Spurs' only transfer activity so far has been selling England right-back Kyle Walker to rivals Manchester City for £45m.
Giuseppe Labellarte
