Conte visits Palace to pay respect to Queen
TOTTENHAM head coach Antonio Conte has revealed he visited Buckingham Palace to pay his own respects to the Queen but is pleased the majority of football will now go ahead this week.
The death of Her Majesty on Thursday saw all of last weekend’s domestic football fixtures cancelled, including Spurs’ trip to Manchester City, but European ties over the coming days will be played and seven of the Premier League’s scheduled matches for Saturday and Sunday will take place.
Tottenham host Leicester at the weekend after taking on Sporting Lisbon in their second Champions League game of the season.
Conte told reporters in Lisbon of the impact of the Queen’s death on everyone at the club, saying: “What happened in the last few days in England is something extraordinary.
“Unfortunately, the Queen died.
“Honestly, on Thursday, we were all sad because we are talking about a person that her service for this country was outstanding.
“I think that in this moment there is big sadness in the country.
“I was living this atmosphere in London. And on Friday I went to Buckingham Palace like a normal person, because I am a normal person.
“I did it with a hat to live this situation because I think for sure we will remember this for the rest of our lives.
“I want to give condolences from me, from the club, from the players to the Royal family.
Then football has to go ahead and we will do it, but I think the Premier League made an important decision to stop football and show respect for the death of the Queen.
“We are talking about a situation that will find it in the story of the future. To stay here in this moment and to live this moment is for sure a sad moment, but at the same time it is a special moment because we are talking about the death of the Queen.
“She was 96 years old and honestly for me it was very difficult to believe she was dead, because in your mind you think that the Queen was immortal. To live this situation in London, in this moment, for sure I will keep this in my heart, in my mind for the rest of my life.”