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Antonio Conte will NOT be back in the dugout to face his former side Chelsea this weekend

Antonio Conte will NOT be back in the dugout to face former club Chelsea on Sunday as he continues recovery from gallbladder surgery, reveals Tottenham assistant Cristian Stellini – but he insists the Italian is ‘very close’ to returning

  • Tottenham boss Antonio Conte will not be back in the dugout for Chelsea clash
  • The Italian is still recovering after having gallbladder surgery earlier this month 
  • Assistant Cristian Stellini confirmed the news in his pre-match press conference 

Tottenham assistant manager Cristian Stellini reveals that Antonio Conte will most likely be absent from the dug-out once again for the Chelsea clash this weekend.

The Italian head coach is still currently recovering after having gallbladder surgery, which has seen him in and out of the Spurs dug-out in recent weeks.

The 53-year-old missed his side’s 2-0 London derby win against West Ham and is expected to miss out once again, when his former club visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

His assistant Stellini has all but confirmed that he will be missing once again, although he remains in close contact with the boss throughout the team’s preparations.

‘No, I don’t think so. It’s not the moment. It’s very close though because I can feel his energy. We have a call 3-4 times a day and in the evening,’ Stellini said in the pre-match press conference.  

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is expected to be absent from the dug-out against Chelsea

His assistant Cristian Stellini all but confirmed that the Italian will miss the clash on Sunday

‘We speak a lot and if we compare with when Antonio had the surgery three weeks ago he is completely involved. 

‘He can watch the training and the energy is completely different. He’s involved in every situation and every decision.’

Conte initially missed the win against Manchester City but defied his doctor’s orders to be return in time for the 4-1 defeat at Leicester last Saturday, just 10 days after going under the knife.

He then helped prepare the team for the first leg of the Champions League last-16 clash with Milan, which Spurs lost 1-0 at the San Siro.

The Spurs boss stayed in Italy after Tuesday’s defeat at Milan in the Champions League, after a consultation with the surgeon who performed the operation to remove his gallbladder, at the start of February.

Conte confirmed prior to the Hammers clash on his Instagram page that he was ‘impatient’ with his return and he ‘underestimated’ the procedure.

Conte confirmed on his Instagram page that he was ‘impatient’ with his return and he ‘underestimated’ the procedure

He wrote: ‘My great sense of responsibility towards the club, the players, the staff and the fans brought me to anticipate 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. 

‘Who knows me, understands what a burden this is for me, but it is necessary. Come On You SPURS!’

It is currently unknown when Conte may return to the dugout with Spurs facing a busy run of fixtures in the coming weeks.

Tottenham face Chelsea before a mid-week FA Cup clash against Championship outfit Sheffield United.

Conte’s side will then face Wolves in the Premier League before welcoming AC Milan to north London for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Stellini, however, has enjoyed some impressive results while stepping into the hot seat during Conte’s recovery – albeit denying questions and talks surrounding a potential promotion at Spurs or even another club in the near future. 

‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I enjoy a lot to be a coach in charge but when you take a decision you have to do your best. 

‘Sometimes I think about being a coach and it’s a dream. But I’m an assistant and that’s the reality. I feel I’m good in this job [as an assistant] to continue.’