Tottenham assistant coach Cristian Stellini revealed that Antonio Conte’s recent cholecystitis diagnosis surprised and upset the club’s staff, who worked to prepare for the Manchester City clash ahead of his operation.

The former Juventus and Chelsea coach underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder after the cholecystitis diagnosis, forcing him to spend some time away from football.

It’s been a difficult year for Conte, who has lost multiple friends in recent months and still lives in a hotel in London, away from his family back in Italy.

Speaking in a press conference, Spurs assistant Stellini first discussed when Conte will be returning to the dugout.

“We don’t know yet when Antonio is coming back. Everything is possible. The surgery was good, he is recovering well. At the moment he is at home, so we have two days for the game, and everything can happen.”

The assistant coach was asked if Conte had been talking about the clash with Manchester City or was still just recovering.

“After the surgery it is normal you don’t have the energy to speak about (the game). But immediately when he recovers well from the surgery, he’ll call me back and start to talk about training and the next game.”

Stellini opened up about his relationship with the Italian coach.

“I grew with Antonio like an assistant manager. I was a player with him, so I know very well his mentality and what he wants from the team. The way we work is linked with Antonio and also with Ryan Mason so everyone in the staff are ready to transfer to the players the idea of Antonio.

“For me it is easier maybe than some new assistants because I know him very well, but Antonio sent me a message and he trusts in us completely.

“100% I trust in the staff, and we are focused more than normal because we have to do what Antonio normally does but Antonio is happy about our job.”

He spoke about how the Spurs staff reacted after discovering Conte’s health concern.

“We are complaining (about) this situation and we are upset. When we realised the situation, it was Antonio who called me and explained the situation. Last week he had a problem that we thought was illness, not a problem like this.

“When he discovered this, it was a surprise and he was so sad about this, but we have to keep going and work. We had the time to speak to Antonio before the surgery about how we prepare and the way to prepare for the next game.

“Then we have lost him for 12 hours, the time for him to have the surgery. The surgery was not difficult, and it is important he recovers well. This is the most important thing.”

Stellini commented on how he tries to keep Conte calm in the dugout.

“I think no one here can keep Antonio calm! So, he knows obviously to have surgery and a surprise like he had on Sunday, it’s is not easy.

“He’s an intelligent man so he knows very well what happened to him. It’s not the worst surgery you can have but it’s surgery, so you have to be careful, and Antonio has to be.”

Finally, Stellini was asked if Conte would be available for the clash with Manchester City this weekend.

“We don’t know yet, the decision will be made tomorrow. Nothing we are ready to do everything and Antonio and probably the doctors that did the surgery for him that have to decide. But we have 48 hours, we have two days to decide. We have time.”

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