Antonio Conte is not in the dugout for Tottenham this weekend as his side take on West Ham.
Conte’s absence could be damaging for Spurs who are heading into a busy period in all competitions over the next month.
Assistant manager Cristian Stellini will now take charge of the first team once again against West Ham after already assuming management duties twice this season.
And the Italian chose to drop Heung-min Son for the derby clash in the capital for Richarlison, who hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since joining from Everton last summer.
But Stellini has stated that his bold decision had the approval of Conte, who he is in regular contact with on a daily basis.
Why is Conte not in the Tottenham dugout?
Conte will not be in the Tottenham dugout until he has fully recovered from his gallbladder surgery.
The Italian admitted that he returned to work too quickly after the procedure as he took charge of Spurs’ games against Leicester and AC Milan last week.
However, following medical advice, he will now be remaining in Italy for the foreseeable future to make sure his body can recover.
Tottenham released a statement that confirmed the situation which said: “Following a routine post-operation check in Italy yesterday, Antonio Conte will remain at his family home to recover from his recent surgery.
“Health is the most important consideration and everyone at the Club wishes him well. Cristian Stellini will assume First Team duties.”
When will Conte return?
Tottenham are bound to miss Conte’s energetic approach on the sidelines over the coming weeks so they will be keen to have him back as soon as possible.
However, they could be without their boss for a while after he confirmed that he will be out of action until he has fully recovered.
Conte released a statement that said: “My great sense of responsibility towards the club, the players, the staff and the fans brought about my comeback on field.
“Sadly I underestimated the procedure, which wasn’t a routine operation but a sudden and serious emergency. My body has suffered my impatience, and now I am forced to stop until my entire recovery.
“Anyone who knows me understands what a burden this is for me, but it is necessary. Come on you Spurs.”
Leave a Reply