Antonio Conte returns to his homeland on Monday and it could be a matter of when — not if — he will be back for good.
Taking on AC Milan at San Siro on Tuesday should be Conte’s ideal stage. As a successful former player and coach at Juventus, and title-winning boss of Inter Milan, there is nothing he would like better than to give the other member of Italy’s traditional big three a hiding in their own back yard.
Yet as he prepares to lead Tottenham into their Champions League last-16 tie against the Italian champions, Conte will find it difficult to be at his bullish best.