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Topics: Scott Mctominay, Napoli, Serie A, Antonio Conte, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Scott Mctominay, Napoli, Serie A, Antonio Conte, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea
If any of Antonio Conte's previous spells in management are to go by, then Scott McTominay and his Napoli teammates will be made to follow a series of strict rules.
It was reported last month that McTominay is currently 'under observation’ regarding his eating habits.
That's according to Italian outlet Il Mattino, who suggest the midfielder has been singled out because he has arrived from abroad and they want to ensure that he does not overindulge in the Neapolitan cuisine.
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McTominay, who has advised to avoid eating too many dairy products, will be monitored by the club's nutritionist, Tiberio Ancora.
Ancora has worked alongside Napoli boss Antonio Conte for the majority of his managerial career, including spells at Juventus, Spurs and Chelsea, where the Italian implemented a host of rules regarding nutrition.
Back in 2016, during his spell as Chelsea manager, Conte banned fizzy drinks, pizza, ketchup and brown sauce as part of an overhaul, with balsamic vinegar and olive oil eventually replacing salt and pepper.
Five years later, Conte removed ketchup and mayonnaise from the menu at Spurs, but he also "demanded a lot" away from the canteen, according to Davinson Sanchez.
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"He's demanding a lot," Sanchez told Sky Sports. "Whether it be from training sessions to meetings, eating and sleeping.
"It's linking with the performance work and then that allows you to be able to help the team to make more effort on the pitch. The performances are coming more easily and you feel healthy in the way that you are playing and training as well.”
Back in 2022, after Spurs enjoyed their best start to a top-flight season for nearly 60 years, Eric Dier also gave an insight into Conte's demands.
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"Sleep a lot, eat well, lots of water," he told the Daily Mail. "I love a nap. I nap every day for 45 minutes. It’s good for me. Eight or nine hours at night and 45 minutes in the afternoon, straight after training.
"It makes me feel better for the rest of the day. I sleep when I want. The rest of the team sleep just as much. Some do it more. The South Americans, they love it."
At the time, Conte also gave an insight into why nutrition is such a key aspect of football, adding: “At Chelsea, it was the same - we spoke about the importance of eating well.
"At every one of the clubs that I trained I had a nutritionist and these aspects are important because you have to stay in the right weight and to do that you have to have the good fat and the good muscle."
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Conte added: “This is a part of our work and the player’s work - to be professional. To be professional means you have to take care of your body.
"If you do this, you recover well and you are at less risk of injury for sure. You are also ready to face the training if sometimes the training is hard.”