Conte to decide Tottenham team selection vs Man City
Despite undergoing surgery on Wednesday, Antonio Conte will be involved in team selection for Tottenham’s match against Manchester City and has been observing training.
Tottenham manager is currently in Italy after having his gallbladder removed due to a diagnosis of cholecystitis.
Conte was not his usual animated self during Saturday’s 3-0 victory at Preston, and severe abdominal pain forced him to undergo surgery in his native country this week.
Assistant Cristian Stellini acknowledged on Friday that doctors will determine whether or not Antonio Conte will be able to attend Sunday’s Premier League match against Manchester City, but the Italian will still have an impact on the match.
“We will do selection together,” Stellini revealed.
“Yeah, because Antonio is not here to feel the training and everything so I will explain it to him and we will decide it together.
“We record the training so he can watch the training and analyse the training but only after.
“I have a special relationship with the players because I am an assistant, so I can use that special relationship with them to force them to give their best.
“This is the kind of coach I can be for the next week and the next game.
“I cannot change myself because I am in charge.”
If Conte is not on the sidelines, Stellini and the rest of the coaching staff will face a similar challenge as they did in November against Marseille on the road.
Stellini and first-team coach Ryan Mason were largely responsible for team leadership in the absence of the suspended Conte, who watched from the stands as Tottenham overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to win and advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.
Stellini anticipates relying heavily on Mason, a seven-match veteran in charge of his boyhood club, during the 2020-21 season. Mason is a former Spurs player.
“It was a great experience and we want to live the same experience,” Stellini said of the Marseille win.
“But I was not alone in that moment. I had Ryan Mason next to me and I have Ryan also with me now.
“He’s very important for the team, very important for me and he’s very important for the club so I’m not alone. I have all the staff with me.”
Stellini cautioned that Pep Guardiola’s side could be a wounded animal given that they have lost three of their last five matches in all competitions.
Despite Spurs’ impressive record against champions City, Stellini noted that City have lost three of their last five matches in all competitions.
“You have to be perfect if you want the possibility to win this type of game against this type of team. You have to be perfect in their box and in our box,” he admitted.
“They are Manchester City and no different from the past. When a big beast has a problem, you have to be more worried because they react so we know it will be difficult but we feel we can do it.”
Conte to decide Tottenham team selection vs Man City
