Antonio Conte has been suffering in silence after a traumatic year that saw the Italian deal with the deaths of three friends, including Gianluca Vialli, but his assistant Cristian Stellini said he was a ‘tough guy’ and determined to energize the club
Antonio Conte has been suffering in silence after a traumatic season in which the Tottenham manager said goodbye to three friends, but his assistant Cristian Stellini says he is as determined as ever to revive his club.
This season, Conte has had to deal with the deaths of Tottenham fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone at the age of 62, friend Sinisa Mihajlovic at 53, and now former teammate Gianluca Vialli at 58.
Stellini took over Tottenham’s press conference yesterday as Conte welcomed the Vialli news and said: ‘Antonio is a tough guy. Maybe this moment is more closed to show his feelings.
Cristian Stellini (left) says Antonio Conte is a ‘tough guy’ after a traumatic year
Conte (L) has lost several close friends this year including former teammate Gianluca Vialli (R)
‘About football? Yes (we are talking). About work? Absolutely. To talk about other things is more difficult. Maybe you don’t show up, or the silence is more than words. We are in that moment.
‘He doesn’t reduce the intensity. He will find new energy. Because this is the type of man. This is Antonio.’
Vialli, who played alongside Conte at Juventus, died earlier today aged 58
Stellini admits it will be difficult for Conte, he is determined to ‘revive the club’
