Marseille boss Igor Tudor has joked that his side opted against training at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game because of Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici. Arriving in the capital on Tuesday to play their first game in Group D, Tudor spoke to the media later that evening to preview the clash.
Knowing Conte extremely well after playing alongside him at Juventus before then working under him as coach, the Croat has hailed the 53-year-old as "one of the best in the world". Opting to train back in France rather than at Tottenham, Tudor joked that they elected against using Tottenham Hotspur Stadium because Conte and Paratici will see everything and be there with a camera.
"We take this decision because we think it's a better option. We could prepare better this morning as here we don't have much time to prepare the game," said the ex-Juventus man. "Because if we prepare the training here Antonio will see all the training and director Paratici from Juventus, they will be there with the camera! So better prepare this morning in Marseille."
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With Conte hailing his former Juventus teammate when he spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon, Tudor has done likewise ahead of the Champions League encounter.
"Antonio I know him as a human being, as a person. When I came to Juventus I was only 20 and I found a dressing room with players like him [Ciro] Ferrara, [Paolo] Montero, [Alessandro] Del Piero. Players who have value, not only as player but a person. He was one of guys who was always exemplary, not by speaking but by his behaviour. In the end the best way to look is behaving the right way," he said.
"Then after I had him as assistant coach when I go to play at Siena he was assistant coach to me there for one year. Then after when I started to try to be a coach he was there at Juventus first time was there. He permit me to see all the training one week and I learn a lot from him.
"Now he's one of the best in the world. Tomorrow coaches are there but I think always decided by players. They are the protagonists and in the end they are the ones who will decide the game."
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