📣 Stellini gives lengthy update on Conte's health and absence | OneFootball

Cristian Stellini is again undertaking media and matchday duties for Tottenham this weekend with Antonio Conte recovering in Italy on doctors orders after his recent surgery.

This is the best of what he had to say.

On fitness update

“No new injuries. We have a problem with [Ryan] Sessegnon which was clear from the last game that Sessegnon was not in the squad. Now at the moment he is not available and not any new news.”

On extended leave for Antonio Conte

“I have the same authority before he came back but since the moment he came back after two days Antonio’s feeling was that maybe he underestimated the procedure after the surgery. Coming close to the [Leicester] game, the stress, the tension he lives normally before the game created some problems.

“When they checked with the doctor, with the club, they spoke for a long time about this and the decision was this. He needs to take it easy again. He will come back soon but not like he hopes.”

On needing extended spell away

“We have a call every day, many times in a day, probably three times per day and every time he wants to come back and he repeat every day, ‘I want to come back Cristian, I’m sorry but how was training, tomorrow we have to organise something particular, we have to organise the team, what do you feel, what do you think,’ but he wants to come back. He talks like this with every sentence.”

On how long he’s been advised to stay away

“Health is more important than football and this is the reason why the club, Antonio and the doctors decide to take this responsibility and leave him in Italy after the last game. We don’t know the time. He needs to rest. The doctor thinks about the timing and they have an ideal but it is really a feeling from Antonio.

“He explained very well that the surgery was not an easy one. It was an emergency surgery. The inflammation was big and maybe they underestimated this situation. He needs time to be 100% and Antonio not at 100% is not Antonio. That creates more stress and this is dangerous after a surgery like that.”

On Son’s struggles

“Every time when you pick the team, you have to leave someone on the bench and normally it is not important the player you have to maybe leave on the bench, it is about the team that has to play. It is important also that some important players stay on the bench their effort when they come in. This is very important.

“We have experienced it with Sonny, with Richarlison, with Deki Kulusevski from the bench the way they change the game. This is normal and it is normal for everyone, not because you have an important player he has to play compulsory. If he need to play sometimes, also he needs to rest because we have a tough fixture list. We have a tough moment and we play many times. Sometimes you have to change the player and also to perform better.”

On Skipp or Sarr with Højbjerg back

“We will take this decision thinking about the game. The details of the game will be so important so the decision we will take is about the game and the characteristics of the opponent and what we need from our players and the type of game we expect to play.”

On his popularity with Spurs fans

“It’s a bit strange for me because normally the assistant coach works behind the spotlight. Not many people know the assistant very well. This is a strange thing for me. I repeat that I’m not alone though, there are many people who work with me and they push the team to work well and everyone to another level.”