Antonio Conte has admitted that he "underestimated" the recent procedure to remove his gallbladder. On Thursday morning it was confirmed by Tottenham that the head coach would remain at his family home in Italy to fully recover from the operation.
Only returning to Hotspur Way last Thursday after having the operation in his homeland a week earlier, Conte was in the dugout for the games against Leicester City and AC Milan over the past week. Following a routine post-operation check in Italy on Wednesday, Conte will now remain in Italy for the time being with Cristian Stellini taking on first-team duties once again.
Following the news that Conte will now spend more time to rest and recuperate after the surgery, he provided an update to fans on his Instagram Stories and claimed that his body has suffered due to his impatience.
READ MORE: Tottenham issue Antonio Conte health update as head coach to remain in Italy
"My great sense of responsibility towards the club, the players, the staff and the fans brought me to anticipate my comeback on field," he wrote. "Sadly I underestimated the procedure, which wasn't a routine operation, but a sudden and serious emergency.
"My body has suffered my impatience, and now I am forced to stop until my entire recovery. Who knows me, understands what a burden this is for me, but it is necessary. Come on you Spurs!"
Speaking after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat against AC Milan at the San Siro, the 53-year-old opened up on his health and talked about his struggles a few days earlier when on the touchline at Leicester City.
"Frankly speaking in the previous match I was completely out, I have just had surgery and after two days my doctor told me I couldn't go, I couldn't make effort, so in the previous match I was distant from the pitch," said the Italian. "Christian was there replacing me and was able to share my ideas with the team, he really helped me out a lot.
"I was wearing a medical device in that period (a post-operative stomach support), but I was still able to interact in a fair enough way with the team, I was not 100 per cent for my physical shape but in the next game I will be fit and try to give my contribution."
Prior to the Champions League Round of 16 game against AC Milan, Conte also admitted in one interview that he had defied doctor's orders to make an early Tottenham return.
"The doctor's recommendation is to stay calm for 15 days," said the head coach, as reported by the Evening Standard. "He had advised me not to return, but you have a sense of responsibility that you want to stay every moment with your players, to breathe the environment in every situation.
"I'm trying to manage it in the best way, certainly during the match I can't let the players hear me as much as I would like. Now I’m feeling much better than before.
“I’m not still 100 per cent but I think I’m recovering well, it’s very important for me to stay with the team, work with them and try to stay together in a difficult moment for us. Because in the last period we were not so lucky, because three surgeries — me and two surgeries for the players.
“In the last seven days we had four serious injuries. For this season, I think to stay together is very important and try to create the right spirit, to help each other much more than before to work together and overcome this difficult period.”
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