Antonio previews Norwich: “We’ve worked a lot to arrive mentally strong at this point” | OneFootball

Focus and concentration are the key words for Antonio Conte ahead of this afternoon’s decisive Premier League finale against Norwich City (4pm).

We step out at Carrow Road knowing a point will be enough to secure fourth place ahead of Arsenal and therefore qualify for the group stage of the Champions League next season. At the same time, Arsenal host Everton.

Norwich are currently bottom and relegated, but that is not entering Antonio’s thinking. “My expectation is to face a team that want to try to play a good game, this is their last game in the Premier League this season, and they will want to try to make our life tough. In the last game, every team wants to play a good game for the fans and to get a good result.

“Norwich have to play their game and the most important thing, and we need to know this, is that we have to play our game, because the target for us is very important, and we have to try to do it.

“We need one point... maybe it’s better to say we need a ‘positive result’. For sure, in this type of game, you have to go into the game with the right focus and concentration. I repeat, there is not an easy game in England and for this reason, our concentration has to be top.

“We’ve prepared very well, and the focus has to be massive for everybody. If someone thinks the situation is easy, I am not that person, and I don’t transfer these thoughts to my players. Football is beautiful for this reason because it is unpredictable, if you don’t go with 100 per cent focus you risk to lose, especially in England. So, we have to pay attention, but we’ve worked a lot to arrive mentally strong at this point.

“We are very close to reaching a fantastic target for us, for the Club, for the fans, the players. It would be a pity not to get this target. For us, it’s important, it’s vital, to get a good result and to play next season in the Champions League.”

Antonio on Spurs TV