Antonio Conte says the deaths of Gian Piero Ventrone, Sinisa Mihajlovic and Gianluca Vialli have put Tottenham’s difficult run of form into perspective.
Conte has had to deal with the passing of Spurs fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, friend Mihajlovic and former team-mate Vialli this season.
“For sure this season is a difficult season from a personal aspect,” said Conte.
“Because to lose in such a short time three people that I knew very, Gian Piero Ventrone, then Sinisa and now Gianluca. It was not simple.
“For sure when this situation happens it brings you to have important reflections. Because many times we give a lot of importance to our work and we forget the family, we forget that we need to have more time for us. This season is a difficult season for me as a personal aspect. For sure this season is making me to have an important reflection on my future.
“When work is at the top of your mind, maybe we forget to stay with the family and friends. But this is our passion and for the passion we lost a lot of things. When this situation happens I think you start to think that maybe sometime it is also good to give more time to your family and friends and also to yourself. The work is not everything in the life.”
Asked if his difficult year has made his miss Italy more, Conte said: “Yes for sure, to have my family in Italy is not good. But when you have a son or daughter and kids in school then you have to respect them because if every year or two seasons you have to bring your kids to change totally their environment, I don’t want to affect the life of my family.
“Sometimes it is important to make decisions to sacrifice and stay. But I have a family who try to support me and come here in every moment that they can come. But this type of situation becomes more difficult when happen situation like this, no, like Gianluca, Gian Piero and Sinisa.”
Conte is yet to agree a new contract and his commitment to Spurs has been questioned.
“I don’t read and I don’t hear this,” he said. “I could be not a good coach. But about the commitment and what I give the club where I work, no club was unhappy about this.
“Usually when I left the club they regret me a lot because they knew the way that I work and the commitment I put into club, what I give for the club. But in this aspect I am really happy for the way that I am.
“I give everything for the club. Not only for Tottenham, for Inter, for Juventus, for every club where I was the coach. And for this reason the club want me to stay for a long period.”
