LONDON (AP) — Tottenham manager Antonio Conte will stay in his native Italy to fully recover from gallbladder surgery, the Premier League club said Thursday.
Conte, 53, led Tottenham in a 1-0 defeat at Milan on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. It was his second game back on the bench after having surgery on February 1.
Conte underwent tests on Wednesday in Italy and will remain there for the foreseeable future.
“Sadly, I underestimated the procedure, which was not a routine operation, but rather a sudden and serious emergency,” Conte wrote on Instagram. “My body has suffered with my impatience, and now I have to stop to fully recover.”
Conte had his gallbladder removed after he was diagnosed with cholecystitis after suffering from severe abdominal pain.
Tottenham confirmed that Conte “will remain at his family home to fully recover from gallbladder surgery. Health is the most important thing and the club wishes him the best.”
The assistant Cristian Stellini will be in charge of the first team.
Spurs, fifth in the Premier League table, host West Ham on Sunday.
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