Gian Piero Ventrone, talking to Antonio Conte.
(Picture: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)Antonio Conte vowed Tottenham would continue in the “best possible way” in memory of fitness coach Gian Piero.
The Italian passed passed away at the age of 61 from acute leukaemia earlier this week following a sudden illness, leaving several members of the Spurs squad and head coach Conte devastated.
Spurs will warm-up in T-shirts with the slogan ‘Always in our hearts — Gian Piero’ in both English and Italian and both sides will wear black armbands ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton.
Ventrone – nicknamed ‘The Machine’ - was one of Italian football’s most colourful characters, spending ten years at Juventus to 2004 and working with Conte as a player and later head coach.
Prior to the game at the Amex Stadium, Conte said: “I think to find words for Gian Piero is very difficult at this moment. I am, and we are really devastated by the pain of what happened.
“Also because no one expected this situation. But sometimes you know life is not always positive situations and for this reason we have to cope in the best possible way because I know Gian Piero wanted to stay strong and continue to do our work in the way that he taught us.”
