MATT BARLOW: Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has had a season of trauma

MATT BARLOW: This has been a difficult and emotional season for Antonio Conte with the deaths of close friends and now surgery… he will have to fight his instinct to rush back to the touchline

• Antonio Conte has undergone gallbladder surgery in Turin after abdominal pain
• The Tottenham boss is expected to miss the club’s match against Man City
• Conte has suffered the loss of three of his close friends in recent months 

This has been a difficult and emotional season for Antonio Conte, quite aside from the usual stress and strain of management on the touchlines of the Premier League.

In October, he was reeling from the sudden death of Gian Piero Ventrone, his friend for many years, close confidante and Tottenham’s fitness guru.

Two months later, another friend Sinisa Mihajlovic lost a long fight with cancer aged 53, the same age as Conte. And then, only last month, more trauma with the passing of friend and former team-mate Gianluca Vialli.

His assistant Cristian Stellini, described him as a ‘tough man’ with ‘closed feelings’ when he stepped in to take care of Conte’s media duties after Vialli’s death.

‘We have to stay close to him, stay together,’ Stellini added with concern. ‘This is a family behaviour and we are like a family. You have to stay close and show love.’

Antonio Conte’s close friend Gian Piero Ventrone, left, suddenly passed away in October

Conte’s former Juventus team-mate Gianluca Vialli died of pancreatic cancer last month

There is nothing to directly link Conte’s emotional duress to complications with his health which surfaced last week, the abdominal pain that grew more acute and surgery to remove his gallbladder yesterday, but it is one of those occasional reminders.

Even for a fitness freak who thrives on pressure, revels in responsibility and hates to delegate, there must be limits, and the events of the last four months brought some perspective as Conte continues to live much of his time apart from his family.

Wife Elisabetta and their daughter Vittoria have stayed in Turin since he took the Spurs job.

‘To lose in such a short time three people I knew very well was not simple,’ said Conte, in reflective mood only a fortnight ago. When this situation happens, you start to think that maybe it is good to give more time to your family and friends, and also to yourself. The work is not everything in life.’

Tottenham’s medical team have been in close dialogue with Conte since he flew back to Italy while complaining of abdominal pain, having given players two days off after the FA Cup win at Preston.

They will ensure he has the best medical attention and emotional support as he recuperates from surgery and they will be at pains to ensure he does not rush back to work before he is ready.

Easier said than done. Conte is a notorious workaholic who likes to micromanage clubs. He dictates everything. When they train, how they train, for how long.

He walks through tactical details during long training sessions, moving his players a yard one way or the other, and through detailed video analysis.

The Tottenham head coach is recovering after undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder

Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini is overseeing the first team while Conte recuperates

He will have input into what they eat and when they eat it. He will plan what is said, messages in team meetings and in the media. Everything revolves around him.

Conte will have complete faith in Stellini and the coaching staff, which includes his brother Gianluca. And after 15 months under his rule, most Spurs players will know precisely what he expects of them against Manchester City on Sunday. But there is no doubt all at Tottenham will notice Conte’s absence even if it is short.

Similarly, Conte will have to fight his instinct to rush back to the touchline, to listen to those imploring him to put his health first. Perhaps the sombre lessons of the last four months will have some influence.

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