Antonio Conte is out, and Cristian Stellini is in, with 10 Premier League games to go this season for Tottenham‘s caretaker coach to lead the club to a top-four finish.
Conte left Tottenham by mutual consent on Sunday night – which came as no surprise after his incredible rant at his players following their 3-3 draw against Southampton – but the announcement his assistant Stellini would take charge raised more than a few eyebrows.
Despite being a close confidante of Conte, he will lead the team forward until the end of the season alongside Ryan Mason – and there are several problems which Stellini must solve.
From the mood around the Spurs squad after the attack from their previous manager to their struggling style on the pitch, he will have a number of areas to address as they go all out to secure Champions League football.
Here, Sportsmail takes a look at the in-tray left behind for Stellini.
Cristian Stellini (right) has a huge job on his hands to secure a top-four finish for Tottenham after the departure of Antonio Conte
ENTERTAIN THE FANS!
Fans go to games to be entertained. We wait all of our working week to walk through those turnstiles on a Saturday in the hope that, for 90 minutes, we can cheer and celebrate and win.
Yet Conte’s style of play was not delivering that of late. There was too much pragmatism – a primary plan to sit back and soak up pressure and target scoring from breakaways.
At the back end of the 2021-22 season, it was delivering, with Conte’s 3-4-3 system securing wins over Arsenal (3-0), Burnley (1-0) and Norwich (5-0). After that five-star victory at Carrow Road in May, Conte was serenaded in the sunshine as it seemed Tottenham had completed their transformation in style, securing a return to the Champions League.
But now, Stellini must walk in with his own ideas. He cannot show himself to be merely a clone of Conte. If Stellini wants to get the supporters onside, it might be a better idea to abandon the formation that’s been frustrating and find his own way of getting this team to click.
Tottenham fans are craving the attacking style they are synonymous for after Conte’s exit
Stellini must find his own way of getting Tottenham to click after becoming caretaker boss
BOLSTER THE BACK LINE
Supporters might have forgiven the focus on counter-attacks if their attack was singing when they actually flew forward. But for too long, Tottenham have been passive when it comes to the final third.
Harry Kane is still…