Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has claimed that finishing in the top four would be akin to winning the Premier League title for his side following their 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
On the back of a miserable week on and off the field, the Lilywhites made a much-needed return to winning ways at home to the Tricky Trees on Saturday afternoon.
Harry Kane netted his 19th and 20th goals of the season before Son Heung-min added a third for Spurs, although Forest would bag a late consolation through Joe Worrall.
With Liverpool falling to a shock 1-0 loss to Bournemouth at lunchtime, Spurs have now opened up a six-point gap in fourth place and are only three points behind Manchester United, who have two games in hand.
Despite their healthy buffer in the Champions League spots, Conte told the press after the game that he still expects a "miracle" to finish in the top four, which would be similar to clinching Premier League glory for the silverware-starved Lilywhites.
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"We have to try to do our best and for sure I repeat for us to finish in the top four is like to win the Premier League. It happened last season and I spoke about miracle," football.london quotes Conte as saying.
"I continue to say maybe this season it will be much more difficult, much more difficult because Liverpool is a competitor in this race. Newcastle [United] is a competitor but Newcastle is a different Newcastle to the past. They invest a lot of money and they have a strong team.
"See Chelsea and what happen and their position, but I don't consider Chelsea outside because Chelsea has the possibility to win the last 11 or 12 games in a row because the squad is really, really strong. We have to think to ourselves. Before during an interview, they ask me about Liverpool and today Liverpool lost but we have to think to ourselves."
Tottenham had the ball in the back of the net after just three minutes against Forest through Richarlison, but the Brazilian's strike was chalked off for offside as he waits to open his Premier League account for Spurs.
However, Kane headed home from Pedro Porro's cross before crashing home a penalty after Worrall had found Richarlison, who crossed for Son to add to Tottenham's lead in the second half.
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Worrall headed home a late consolation from a corner, and Forest were also awarded a last-minute penalty for Dejan Kulusevski's handball, but Andre Ayew's effort was kept out by Fraser Forster.
In a week where he hit out at his lack of game time and admitted that his first season in Spurs colours was "shit" - which Conte agreed with - Richarlison repaid the manager's faith in him from the first whistle, and Conte insisted that he was not "stupid" to not select his best XI.
"Don't forget Richarlison started the season really well and at the start of the season after maybe three games he started to play regularly. He played really well. He didn't score. He scored only in Champions League but he was many, many times in the starting XI," Conte added.
"He had other physical problems but I repeat the coach is not so stupid. All the coaches are not so stupid to not start the best XI to not win."
Tottenham return to the road to face Southampton at St Mary's next Saturday.
Ben Knapton
