Antonio Conte (Tottenham): “I recovered my energy”

Absent for several matches for medical reasons, the Italian coach of Tottenham Antonio Conte will find the bench this Wednesday during the knockout round of the Champions League once morest AC Milan. Operated on February 1 to have his gallbladder removed, he had tried to return on February 14, during the first leg lost 1-0, before having to extend his recovery.

If he has always been in contact with the team and his assistant Cristian Stellini, who replaced him on the bench for the matches, “being present is totally different”he admitted at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “I would like to thank all the staff who did a very good jobhe added. And also the players. Being without a coach for three weeks was not easy. »

Conte admitted that he had underestimated the time needed to recover. “Now I’m better, and I’ve recovered my energy. I still have to regain some weight, but for the rest, everything is OK”he specified.

At his side at a press conference, South Korean international striker Son Heung-min considered that Conte “brought positive energy to the team. From (his return) here (Monday), you can feel his passion once more. If he’s on the sidelines, I think the players will be more comfortable and that will give us incredible momentum.”