- Mar 4, 2024
- Sep 15, 2022
Following a post-op check after his recent gallbladder surgery, Spurs head coach Antonio Conte will stay in Italy at his family home. Cristian Stellini will take over as head coach in his absence. The Tottenham manager was back on the sidelines for their 1-0 Champions League defeat at AC Milan on Tuesday and their 4-1 Premier League loss at Leicester last Saturday.
However, he has since returned to his home country. Following gallbladder removal surgery two weeks ago, Conte missed the 1-0 victory over Manchester City on February 5 as a result.
“Following a routine post-operation check in Italy yesterday (Wednesday), Antonio Conte will remain at his family home to further and fully recover from his recent gallbladder surgery,” a club statement read. “Health is the most important consideration and everyone at the club wishes him well. Cristian Stellini will assume first-team responsibility.”
When Conte returned from leave, his assistant Stellini had mentioned that he should “take it easy,” and the former Chelsea manager acknowledged that he wasn’t fully recovered in time for the midweek match in Milan. Stellini will be in charge of the squad for Sunday’s home London derby against West Ham. Stellini has led fifth-placed Tottenham to two victories thus far this season.
Although he was quiet against Leicester after a heartbreaking loss, Conte was more animated at San Siro and frequently shouted instructions to his team. Even after the razor-thin defeat in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, the 53-year-old insisted that he will soon be back to full fitness.
Conte said on Tuesday night: “Frankly speaking in the previous match (against Leicester) I was completely out, I have just had surgery and after two days my doctor told me I couldn’t go, I couldn’t make (the) effort.
“So in the previous match, I was distant from the pitch. Cristian was there replacing me and was able to share my ideas with the team, he really helped me out a lot.
“I was wearing a medical device in that period, but I was still able to interact in a fair enough way with the team, I was not 100 per cent (in) my physical shape but in the next game I will be fit and try to give my contribution.”