Tottenham players were reportedly woken up twice by fireworks above the team hotel ahead of the Marseille Champions League clash.
Spurs are in the southern French city getting set for their match at the Orange Velodrome, knowing a point will guarantee safe passage to the last-16.
As reported by The Guardian, club sources spoke of ‘very prolonged’ firework displays outside of their base in the city, with the first taking place at 1:30am and the next around 4:30am on Tuesday morning.
#OMTOT pic.twitter.com/i3YfNc7fTv
— Fatih (@Fatih2mars) November 1, 2022
The disturbance was so loud that it woke Conte’s players as Marseille fans played their part in helping the former European champions try to get a result against the Premier League outfit.
It’s not the first time locals have took to using fireworks in this fashion, as Marseille fans carried out the same treatment to Paris Saint-Germain players the night before their meeting with their bitter rivals four years ago.
PSG have since took to fly to the Mediterranean coast on the day of the game to avoid a repeat of the scenes.
But the use of fireworks is something of a theme in French football with PSG fans themselves using the tactic against Real Madrid in 2018 and Barcelona in 2021.
In other cases, fireworks have been used inside the stadium with Marseille fans firing them straight at PAOK fans ahead of their Europa Conference League clash in April.
The Orange Velodrome will be partially closed for the visit of Tottenham after Marseille were sanctioned with the closure of the Virage Nord – which tends to hold much of the club’s Ultra’s fanbase – due to violent incidents with Eintracht Frankfurt fans in September.
Despite the closure, Spurs can expect a very hostile reception anyway throughout in a game with Marseille coach Igor Tudor describing it as the ‘match of the year.’
Tottenham’s preparations for their Champions League tie against Marseille have been disrupted after fireworks were set off at the team hotel during the night. pic.twitter.com/NNULN38PhS
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 1, 2022
Spurs have warned their 2,000-strong travelling support to “expect a hostile environment around this fixture” and “exercise caution at all times while in Marseille”.
They also advised them not to visit the Vieux Port and, in other parts of the city, “not to wear anything that will identify them as Tottenham supporters or congregate in large groups”.
The fans are to be bused in and out of the stadium from the La Joliette area under police escort. The local police chief, Frederique Camilleri, has signed an order to prohibit the Tottenham faithful from being in the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th arrondissements of the city until 2am on Wednesday – in other words a large area of the centre that includes the Vieux Port.
Mawnhile, Tottenham will just “have to deal” with Antonio Conte‘s touchline ban for Tuesday’s Champions League Group D decider at Marseille, says midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Conte was sent off after his side’s draw with Sporting Lisbon and will have to sit in the stands in France.
“No-one can fill his void, but we’ll be together and we have to get through this together,” said Hojbjerg.
“It’s not a difficult situation, it’s a different situation.”
“We have to be successful together. The fact is he won’t be there so we have to deal with that, the staff are well prepared,” added Hojbjerg.
“He is a very good coach and a massive part of the team but thankfully he has very good staff and players who are aware of what they expect of them. The number one key ambition is to go to the knockout phase.”
One player keen to confirm a Spurs exit is former Arsenal favourite Alexis Sanchez, who is joined in the ex-Gunners ranks at Marseille by Matteo Guendouzi, Nuno Tavares and Sead Kolasinac.
“Beating Spurs every time was a great joy. It was very special and those are memories that I hold dear to my heart,” said Sanchez, who also played under Conte at Inter Milan.
“Every single player has motivation to play and win. We all want to bring the victory back.”
Marseille boss Igor Tudor also knows Conte well and is glad his former Juventus team-mate is not going to be in the Tottenham dugout and dressing room.
“He has a good impact on the game so it is better that he is not there, but the players are playing, not the coaches,” he said.
“Tomorrow we have a great game ahead of us. It really is a top opportunity for the boys to reach the knockout [stage] of the Champions League.”
Fireworks were let off outside Tottenham’s hotel at 1am and 4.30am last night in Marseille 🎆
Wonder who the culprits could be… 👀 pic.twitter.com/tPoLsP3WUE
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) November 1, 2022
This is how Twitter users reacted with Tottenham players woken up twice by fireworks above the team hotel ahead of Tuesday’s Marseille clash…
@CharlieCookieK: Do people not understand we are spurs we don’t need fire works to F us up we can do that with a full nights sleep
@ieditpereira: Only for them to loose 🤣
@THFCRBR: Excellent. Need the players to be pissed off on the pitch to take revenge…
@SamLav20: Oh great 3-0 L incoming then
@LJW1882: How very grown up of them…..🤣 Desperation if you ask me!
@jonellis121: Love a bit of shithousery 👍
@Archyarchives: It’s starting 😂😂 keep it going Marseille least we can agree conte already had his excuse if they bottled it
@TylerHewey: At least it was a beautiful display
@LTalkTottenham: The Marseille fireworks will hopefully anger the team and give them even more determination to win. Have my doubts but can always hope. Disgraceful from the fans though. If an English team there would be repercussions
@Drew_N17_: Ajax did this back in 2019……… let’s just say the rest was history 😉🖕
@N17_lad1986: If they could also do this at the start of the second half to wake us up , that’ll be great 👍
@TylerAFC__: Good job Marseille fans 👏🏻
@24thminute: A little taste of CONCACAF in Uefa last night…
@N17_SAUL: Was probs the local gun shots
@THFCxVasi: Ffs now they gonna have an excuse for when they bottle it
@Thfc2yid: Just do the business and fuck off outta there
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