Cristian Stellini on how Antonio Conte feels after Tottenham Hotspur beat Marseille in Champions League
Antonio Conte got the whole fan experience package for Tottenham Hotspur’s clash against Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday night (1 November).
The Italian manager was red-carded against Sporting CP last week and banned from the touchline for this encounter. As a result, he deferred all his media duties to assistant manager Cristian Stellini.
Conte was placed in the stands and watched the game from afar. Spurs conceded in first-half stoppage time after leaving former Newcastle United centre-back Chancel Mbemba unmarked in the box.
Spurs showed their amazing powers of recovery once again. Frenchman Clement Lenglet rose highest to head home the equaliser early in the second half to calm the nerves of the away fans at the Stade Velodrome.
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Spurs defended for their lives and got a 95th-minute goal on the breakaway via half-French midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjger. Spurs needed a point to qualify.
However, a win ensured that they made it out of the group as the number one placed team. Speaking after the full-time whistle in Marseille, Stellini (ht Express) said:
“I spoke to Antonio. He is tired, because the game while he is in the crowd is not normal and he wastes a lot of energy. Its better to stay on the touchline because you leave the game like the players are doing.”
It was a tough night in Marseille compounded by the hostile atmosphere created inside and outside the stadium. Spurs players were up to the task and this game, in all honesty, was about getting over the line rather than playing attractive football.
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Conte will be back on the touchline this weekend when Spurs take on Liverpool in the Premier League at N17 on Sunday.