Antonio Conte granted visa ahead of Vitesse clash
By Tom Gott
New Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has received his visa and is now free to lead his team in Thursday's Europa Conference League tie with Vitesse Arnhem.
Conte's move to the club was confirmed on Tuesday and he has already taken charge of training sessions, but he needed a visa to allow him to formally take charge of the team on Thursday.
He was always expected to get it, and the paperwork came through on the morning of the game to allow Conte to take official charge of the team as they look for revenge against the Eredivisie side.
Vitesse beat Spurs 1-0 just a few weeks ago, leaving the team third in their Group G after three games. They sit two points behind Thursday's opponents and three behind leaders Rennes.
Conte will be eager for a good showing in his first game in charge, and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris urged his teammates to give their all for the new boss.
“We are full of ambition in this competition, and we are not in a good position in the table,” Lloris told the club's official website. “It’s a must-win game. There are still three games to play in this group stage and we have ambition to finish first and to go through to the next round.
“For that, we need to deliver a big performance not only for this competition, but to start well in the new process under Antonio Conte.
“We have a short time to prepare for the next two games, they are very important for the next month and we want the best feeling before the international break.
“Obviously, a lot has happened in the last 48 hours. We need to switch on with a new manager, with new ideas of football, with a new philosophy of work, and it demands a lot, energy, focus, from everyone. Again, we have to put all our energy into the next two games, deliver the best performances and play the football the manager expects from us.”