Antonio Conte believes Chelsea will have to recruit heavily in the transfer market this summer in order to compete on four fronts next term.
Conte is on course to win the Premier League and FA Cup Double in his first season in charge, but claims his squad is weaker compared to rivals Tottenham.
The Blues, who play Arsenal in the FA Cup Final on May 27, will clinch the title if they beat Middlesbrough and West Brom this week. Spurs lost to West Ham on Friday night and failed to close the four point gap.
Chelsea have already guaranteed their place back in the Champions League next term and Conte doesn’t think he has a big enough squad to cope.
Conte is frustrated about claims that Chelsea have only led the table because they haven’t played in Europe this season.
He said: “Don’t forget that Tottenham dropped out of the Champions League at the first group stage, and then dropped out in the first round of the Europa League (knock-out stage).
“If you consider the amount of 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.
The Chelsea head coach continues to be mystified that Spurs have been regarded as the underdogs in the title race this term.
He added: “I think that Tottenham have had an advantage because Mauricio Pochettino is a really good manager and is working with his team for a third year.
“Last season, Spurs fought to win the title and Chelsea arrived 10th. You can see our transfer market, and Tottenham’s transfer market.
“Then I think 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.
“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. But, I repeat,
Tottenham’s position for me is more advanced if you compare Tottenham’s to Chelsea.”
Conte expects Spurs to be one of five teams that will challenge Chelsea for first spot again in the next campaign.
He said: “This season my expectation was a great challenge in this League against Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool. 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.”
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