Antonio Conte's recent absence from Tottenham due to recovery from gallbladder surgery did not change his mind about his future at the club amid reports of a contractual impasse.
Conte was back in the hot seat on Tuesday as Spurs held their pre-match press conference before Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Milan.
Spurs revealed Conte was set for a period of leave on February 1 after a sudden illness required the emergency removal of his gallbladder.
He returned to work just eight days later but was then signed off again on February 16, with Conte acknowledging he underestimated how long his body needed to recover.
The visit of Milan will be Conte's first game back at the helm, assuming control again from Cristian Stellini, but it comes following strong rumours claiming he will not be staying beyond the end of the season when his contract ends.
Conte sounded committed upon his return but did not directly discuss his future and his comments hinted at there being no movement.
"This type of situation can happen and I discovered after the surgery that many of my friends had the same surgery," he told reporters.
"This was emergency surgery, not planned, and that's very different. Previously a lot of sad news happened and when [the doctors] told me that I had only [needed] surgery, for this reason I was happy, because you never know what could happen.
"This doesn't change my mind. Now, I repeat that I have to stay with the players and breathe the atmosphere of the training ground."
Results for Spurs have been mixed over the past five weeks or so since Conte initially took time off.
The lowest moment, however, came last week when Championship side Sheffield United knocked them out of the FA Cup.
Conte wanted to return after that embarrassment for Spurs but was blocked by doctors.
"I wanted to come back after the game against Sheffield United but the doctors stopped me," he continued.
"They said, 'you have to listen to us and wait two days more and come back to London on Sunday for the game against Milan'. But honestly, I wanted to come back early."
Despite Spurs' lack of on-pitch consistency and Conte's own off-field frustrations, he appeared to be in high spirits as Tottenham look to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.
He added: "[Monday] was positive. My feeling was really good. It's important for me to work with my players and the staff and prepare for the games.
"From afar I tried to stay very close with my players using video. To be present is totally different and for this reason I have to say thanks to my whole staff. They did a really good job and the players to stay for three weeks without the manager wasn't easy.
"Now I'm back and I'm really happy. We want to go to the next round and for tomorrow I hope to feel an amazing atmosphere in our stadium. Our fans give us a major boost and we're playing against the team that won the league in Italy last season."
Son Heung-min also recognised the significance of Conte's return from the players' perspectives, with the former Inter coach bringing with him his trademark boisterousness.
"It's important," he said. "I'm glad that the manager is sitting next to me.
"He brings good energy to the team. When the boss isn't here it's different. We could feel that energy and his passion on the touchline [in training on Monday]. We'll feel more comfortable."
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life without Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
Newcastle dream not over, insists Howe despite transfer disappointment
Eddie Howe insists Newcastle United’s dream of regular success may take a little longer than anticipated after a disappointing transfer window.
After the Magpies’ Saudi-backed takeover in 2021, Amanda Staveley claimed they could win a first Premier League title within 10 years of that.
But Newcastle’s failed pursuit of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has shown where they are in the market, welcoming just five new faces at St James’ Park and keeping much of the squad that missed out on European football last year.
And ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Tottenham Hotspur, Howe urged supporters to trust the process and back the team when they take to the pitch on Sunday.
"I don't think the dream dies, necessarily, but I think it takes a lot longer,” Howe said.
"We've got to build our revenue streams, that is the biggest thing. We've got to bring more money into the football club, however we do that - through player sales, through sponsorship, through loads of various things.
"That's the big thing that we need to focus on now for the next, probably, 10 years.
"Whether I'm lucky enough to see any of that, who knows? But the dream is not over, it's just going to take a lot, lot longer."
Tottenham, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season after cruising to a 4-0 win over Everton in their first home game of the campaign.
Ange Postecoglou is aiming to improve on Spurs’ fifth-placed finish last term that secured them Europa League football.
Spurs discovered their opponents in the new format of the competition on Friday, with a reunion with Jose Mourinho on the cards, while Postecoglou returns north of the border to face old foes Rangers.
And the Spurs boss believes the new format will allow his players to build a rhythm throughout the Premier League campaign due to the competitive nature of the tournament this year.
"It allows us to get into a rhythm of having two games a week until January pretty much. I much prefer having a programme now as opposed to last year.
“The new format is interesting, there will be less 'dead rubbers' in European football which can't be a bad thing.
"It's a tough game, they have got some outstanding players who are well coached. It's going to be a great challenge for us."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newcastle – Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak has enjoyed Spurs’ visits to St James’ Park recently, scoring twice in both of his two Premier League home games against Tottenham.
Only two players have scored two or more goals in three consecutive home appearances against a club in the competition – Alan Shearer vs Everton (1992 to 1994) and Chris Sutton vs Liverpool (1994 to 1996).
Tottenham – James Maddison
James Maddison has provided an assist in four of his last five Premier League games, including both matches so far this season for Postecoglou’s side.
No Spurs player has ever assisted a goal in each of their first three games in a single campaign before.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Despite Opta’s data-led simulations predicting a close encounter in the North East, it has been Newcastle who have had the better of the results in recent years.
The Magpies have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with Spurs (L1), as many as in their previous 13 (D2 L8). Three of their last five league victories against Spurs have been by at least a four-goal margin.
Newcastle have also scored at least once in each of their last 20 Premier League home games, scoring with their only attempt on target in their last such match against Southampton. Only once have they had a longer scoring streak at St James’ Park in the competition, going 24 games between January 1995 and February 1996.
Tottenham have lost their last two Premier League away games against Newcastle by an aggregate score of 10-1. They’d only lost two of their previous 11 such visits to St James’ Park (W6 D3).
But having won four of their first six Premier League away games last season (D2), Spurs have now won just three of their last 14 on the road (D5 L6).
But expect goals on Sunday. Newcastle v Tottenham is the most played fixture in Premier League history to never finish 0-0 (58 games). Only Liverpool v Tottenham (191) and Arsenal v Liverpool (190) have seen more goals than this in the competition (186), while there have been 34 goals in the last seven meetings alone (4.9 per game).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Newcastle – 38.7%
Draw – 23.6%
Tottenham – 37.7%
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