Tottenham have confirmed that Antonio Conte will remain at his family home in Italy after a post-operation check in his homeland on Wednesday. After undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder two weeks ago, the head coach returned to Hotspur Way last Thursday and was in the dugout for the defeats against Leicester City and AC Milan.
Tottenham have confirmed in a statement that Cristian Stellini will assume responsibility when it comes to the first team. The club are not putting a timeframe on when the head coach, who stayed behind in Italy after their Champions League defeat for his check-up, will return at this stage.
A statement on Tottenham's official website read: "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.
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"Health is the most important consideration and everyone at the club wishes him well. "Cristian Stellini will assume First Team responsibility."
Speaking after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat against AC Milan at the San Siro, the 53-year-old opened up on his health and talked about his struggles a few days earlier when on the touchline at Leicester City.
"Frankly speaking in the previous match 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 effort, so in the previous match I was distant from the pitch," said the Italian. "Christian 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 (a post-operative stomach support), but I was still able to interact in a fair enough way with the team, I was not 100 per cent for my physical shape but in the next game I will be fit and try to give my contribution."
Prior to the Champions League Round of 16 game against AC Milan, Conte admitted in one interview that he had defied doctor's orders to make an early Tottenham return.
"The doctor's recommendation is to stay calm for 15 days," said the head coach, as reported by the Evening Standard. "He had advised me not to return, but you have a sense of responsibility that you want to stay every moment with your players, to breathe the environment in every situation.
"I'm trying to manage it in the best way, certainly during the match I can't let the players hear me as much as I would like. Now I’m feeling much better than before.
“I’m not still 100 per cent but I think I’m recovering well, it’s very important for me to stay with the team, work with them and try to stay together in a difficult moment for us. Because in the last period we were not so lucky, because three surgeries — me and two surgeries for the players.
“In the last seven days we had four serious injuries. For this season, I think to stay together is very important and try to create the right spirit, to help each other much more than before to work together and overcome this difficult period.”
Tottenham host West Ham on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League, with Chelsea the visitors to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the following week.
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