TOTTENHAM have been sent a bottle of ketchup by a cheeky sauce company after Antonio Conte’s banning of the condiment.
The new Spurs chief removed the classic sauce from the menu at the club’s training ground shortly after his appointment.
But a little over two weeks after the ban on the sauce, ketchup has found its way back to Spurs Lodge.
Austrian-based sauce company Curtice Brothers were responsible for sending a bottle of the red stuff to Spurs – and even took an advert out in the Enfield Independent.
The ad included a letter to Conte which read: “Dear Antonio,
“We heard you banned ketchup. We applaud your decision. Nutrition is important, but so is joy.
“Do you know what is also from Italy? Our tomatoes, Antonio.
“Not all ketchup is created equal. So, don’t write off all ketchup.
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“We only use organic ingredients. In fact, our tomatoes are so natural sweet, that we don’t add sugar.
“Yes, Antonio – senza zucchero. We know it will take some big Italian tomatoes to change your mind. 15 per bottle to be precise.
“That’s why we are sending you a box of the world’s most natural ketchup.
“For you, and the team to taste and enjoy.
“After all, like you said, nutrition is critical. And so is joy. All the best in your Spurs adventures. Mario.”
As charming as the letter to Conte was, the iron-fisted Italian is unlikely to shift his stance on his players consuming ketchup.
In fact, the former Chelsea boss has warned his new troops there’ll be hell to pay if they break his ban.
He said: “I can see the results from the nutritionist and I can see if this is OK or not OK and maybe you are not doing well outside the training centre.
“This is a part of it, to improve the players in many aspects and to make the players understand. The pitch and the game is only the final part of your work.
“You have to prepare your body and your mind. Also, your heart and your passion to do this.
“I did this not only at Chelsea and Juventus and Inter Milan, but also when I was in Serie B with Siena.
“I was the same because I think I had an important experience as a player and I am trying to bring this into my coaching and my relationships with the players.
“I consider good nutrition and attitude very important because for the player it is not only important the training or the game.
“I think you have to prepare yourself in the best possible way.
“Sleep is very important and to eat well is very important. These two aspects help the player recover quicker.
“If you have the correct nutrition and sleep, you can recover quickly, you are ready to work, also sometimes to work very hard and to avoid injuries.
“To be professional, it means to have all these situations in your mind.
“I spoke to the nutritionist. This aspect is important because you have to have good fat and good muscle. This is a part of our work and the players’ work.
“To be professional means you have to take care of your body. If you do this you risk less injury, and you are ready to face the training because sometimes the training is hard.
“I am going slowly, slowly because now the priority is to work very well on the pitch, to make the physical, tactical and mental aspects the priority.
“For sure, we are going step by step. We want to improve every aspect of my players.
“Usually when I start to work with players, maybe at the start someone cannot understand something like this, but then when they start to understand, they don’t go away from it.”
Tottenham will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, travelling to Turf Moor to take on relegation battlers Burnley.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
