Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has pulled out of his scheduled FA Cup press conference on Friday afternoon following the death of Gianluca Vialli.
The Spurs boss was due to address the assembled media at 2pm BST at Hotspur Way ahead of his side’s third-round home meeting with League One outfit Portsmouth on Saturday lunchtime.
However, Tottenham have now confirmed that Conte will hand over press duties to assistant Cristian Stellini as he mourns the sad passing of a close friend and former team-mate at the age of 58 following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Following the sad passing of Gianluca Vialli, today’s press conference will be taken by Cristian Stellini,” Spurs said in a statement.
Midfield general Conte and star striker Vialli were team-mates throughout the latter’s four-year spell at Juventus between 1992-96, winning a plethora of major silverware together including one Serie A title and the 1995-96 Champions League, with Vialli the captain of that famous side with Roberto Biaggio injured.
They won a number of other trophies together during that period including the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and Uefa Cup. Vialli had already made his 59th and final appearance for Italy under Arrigo Sacchi two years before Conte’s international debut in 1994.
