Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte said his team found it difficult to play against Brighton & Hove Albion after the death of their fitness coach but Saturday's victory showed he could always count on his squad to rise to the occasion.
Spurs' popular fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone died earlier this week aged 61, just days after he was diagnosed with leukaemia, leaving the Premier League club devastated at his sudden demise.
Conte was visibly emotional during the minute's applause prior to kickoff while captain Hugo Lloris held up a shirt with Ventrone's name to the travelling support following the 1-0 win that moved Spurs to within three points of the top of the table. "It was a really tough week for us, not only for me - my staff, players and all the Tottenham environment.
He was a person who was in the heart of every single Tottenham person," Conte told the BBC. "It was really tough for us. Tomorrow is the funeral, we will go with the staff.