Antonio Conte was looking on the bright side after a disappointing Tottenham defeat (Picture: Getty Images)

Antonio Conte says Tottenham have made progress over the last year despite a Champions League exit at the hand of AC Milan on Wednesday night, as they were playing in the Europa Conference League last season.

Spurs lost the first leg of the last 16 tie in Milan and produced a drab performance on home soil, only managing a goalless draw as they went out of the competition pretty tamely.

A late Harry Kane header got the home fans excited, but Spurs did not create many chances and their chances of a trophy end for another season.

Conte was frustrated with his team’s lack of cutting edge, but he was looking for the positives, as he highlighted the woeful Conference League defeats to lesser sides last season, compared to losing to the Serie A champions in the Champions League knockout stages this time around.

‘The third game in a row, we are not able to score,’ Conte told BT Sport. ‘The game was in the balance, I saw the stats but then if you ask me in a game like this were we really dangerous? No.

‘I think we can do much better offensively. When I speak about offensively I speak about the whole team, not only the players who play in the front half.

‘We can do much better, but I cannot say anything negative about the commitment of the payers. They gave everything from the start to the end.

‘We finished the game with 10 men, but if I have to see a positive situation, compared to last season it is a little step forward.

‘Last season we played Conference League and we weren’t able to overcome the group stage. We lost against Mura, Vitesse, Pacos de Ferreira last season.

‘Now we did a step forward, but I think for sure it’s not enough.’

Spurs were not helped by a late Cristian Romero red card as the defender produced a reckless lunge while already on a yellow.

It compounded a miserable night for the Tottenham fans, who booed off their team on an evening of pure frustration.

MORE : Champions League: Tottenham crash out and Bayern Munich beat PSG

MORE : Antonio Conte finally returns to Tottenham… but for how long?

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‘I have to see a positive situation.’