Gian Piero Ventrone

Tottenham won 1-0 at Brighton just days after the passing of fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone; the Italian was a popular man at Tottenham and was nicknamed ...

"It was incredible because he was really worried to miss the training and I said 'Gian Piero we are talking about your health'. To the backdrop of an empty stadium, the players were undertaking their first post-match fitness duties since the passing of their guru. It was hard not to get emotional walking down the steps from the press box at The Amex, long after the final whistle had gone and witness the Spurs substitutes doing their warm-down. When it happens, it is very difficult to cover your feeling with the players and with the people that work in Tottenham. The fitness coach was also part of Lippi's staff when Italy won the 2006 World Cup in Germany. I knew that the situation was really problematic after the game against Frankfurt [on Wednesday] but no one could have expected this situation because no one knew.

Here's every word the Tottenham Hotspur head coach said in his press conference after the 1-0 victory at Brighton in the Premier League.

I think for this reason, in only ten months, the people at Tottenham appreciated him a lot because they are understood that we are talking about a really top man, a top worker. I lived a lot of time with him because we worked together for ten years at Juventus when I was a player, and believe me, it was really, really tough as a player to work with him. I remember that he put a big bell in the gym and said to us, 'if someone is not good or wants to give up, they have to go there and sound the bell'. I'm really proud of my players because I said to them I know that before having good players, I have really good persons. At the same time, you have to try to cope with this situation in the best possible way, and it has to be so for his family, for his wife Cinzia, his son Ivan and daughter Martina, and then I'm sure that Gian Piero will stay with us forever, forever, I'm sure about this. Many times we tried to find the motivation to push these players and to, create a situation and to increase the tension. I said to them just now that I'm proud to be the coach of this team because, first of all, we have top men and really good players. He was a person with a strong character, and he doesn't want to see us not happy. I left them to face the situation, and they showed me to be really good people, top men. It was really, really difficult for us to be focused on the game because what happened in the last three days was incredible, was incredible. When this happens, it is very different to cover your feelings with the players, with the people that work in Tottenham. And to ask to stay at home because he had a bit of a fever.

HARRY KANE celebrated his goal this evening by pointing to the sky in tribute of Gian Piero Ventrone, after the Tottenham coach's tragic death aged 61.

Thank you so much and rest in peace!" [Spurs](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196652/tottenham-hotspur/) paid tribute to Ventrone before their clash with Brighton, wearing T-shirts reading "Always in our hearts Gian Piero" during the warm-up. A number of Tottenham stars paid tribute to him after his passing, with Son Heung-min writing on social media: "The world has lost a truly special person. Rest in peace Prof." "Thank you for everything my friend. Especially at the beginning, when he said I shouldn't lower my head under any circumstances, no matter what.

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte was pictured wiping away tears during an emotional tribute to fitness coach and close friend Gian Piero Ventrone, ...

To have another opportunity to change system can also be important for the players and the future." "In this moment, we have just started to play many games in only a few days," explained Conte before kick-off. Questions were then asked of his tactics when the Lilywhites spluttered to a 0-0 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday. A Spurs statement released earlier this week read: "As loveable off the pitch as he was demanding on it, Gian Piero quickly became a hugely popular figure with players and staff. Having been a close friend of Conte, Tottenham took the decision to cancel the Italian's press conference this week leading up to the Brighton clash. A minute's applause was held before Spurs' clash with [Brighton](/latest/brighton-hove-albion-fc) at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

The Spurs manager alongside his entire squad will travel to Naples for the funeral of Vetrone on Sunday.

“I have to be honest, it was really difficult for us to be focused on the game,” Conte explained. “I have said many times the most important thing in a player is that he is a good person. “It was really difficult for everybody when I communicated the bad news to the players. “He made it very hard for me.” And Conte spoke of his pride at seeing his players maintain their performance and professionalism in the wake of the tragic events of the past week. “This is how he was,” said Conte.

The Spurs manager spoke emotionally about his long-term ally after the 1-0 win against Brighton and confirmed that the staff and players would attend his ...

[Harry Kane](https://inews.co.uk/topic/harry-kane?ico=in-line_link) was on the verge of throwing up and Son Heung-min struggled to stand. At the same time, you have to cope with the situation in the best possible way, And then I am sure Gian Piero will stay with us forever. [punishing sessions](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/antonio-conte-tottenham-revolution-banning-ketchup-bell-shame-signings-1791746?ico=in-line_link), joined the club 11 months ago when Conte took over as the club’s manager. “When it happens it is very difficult to cover your feeling with the players and with the people that work in Tottenham. It was an illness but under control and then it is very difficult because the situation hit me a lot in the emotional aspect. We are going with the staff. Yet the brutal sessions did not stop the Spurs players from warming to him. Supporters chanted “there’s only one Gian Piero” and many brought Italian flags with them from London. It’s difficult to make him happy because we are really devastated by the pain.” “For this reason, I think he was in the hearts of every single player and my players were really devastated by the pain but life sometimes, you know it happens in many situations not only to us. “It was incredible because he was really worried to miss the training and I said “Gian Piero when we are talking about your health”, in that moment he spoke to me about his illness and when it is healthy you have to take the right check and don’t worry but his first problem was to miss the training. At the same time, I have seen a lot of solidarity.

Tottenham Hotspur fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone passed away early this week following a sudden illness.

"We are really devastated by the pain for what happened. Paying tribute to the renowned coach ahead of this evening's Premier League clash at Brighton & Hove Albion, Conte opened up on his great friend when speaking to Sky Sports to preview the match. Antonio Conte has paid tribute to Gian Piero Ventrone following the Tottenham fitness coach's death this week. "But sometimes life is not always positive situations. "I think to find words for Gian Piero is very difficult in this moment," said the Spurs head coach. [Conte](https://www.football.london/all-about/antonio-conte) brought the 61-year-old over to north London last November following his appointment as [Spurs](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/) boss.