Antonio Conte found it impossible to contain his emotions as Tottenham ended a difficult week with a victory at Brighton.
Harry Kane scored the only goal, a glancing header and dedicated it to the club’s fitness guru Gian Piero Ventrone, who died suddenly on Thursday.
“I know Gian Peiro wanted to stay strong and to continue to do our work in the way that he asked,” said Conte, who looked distraught during the minute’s applause for his friend before kick-off, as Spurs fans held Italian flags in the away end.
They were able to do that, resisting late pressure to hold Brighton and bay, keep a clean sheet and return to winning ways after a painful defeat at Arsenal last week and a goalless draw in the Champions League at Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek.