Stellini ‘sad’ over Conte’s exit as interim boss oversees Spurs ‘crisis’

Tottenham interim head coach Cristian Stellini is keen to prove that the club were right to appoint him as Antonio Conte’s replacement until the summer.

Conte left Spurs last week by mutual consent. This came a week on from his extraordinary rant in which he criticised his own “selfish players” following a 3-3 stalemate at Southampton.

Assistant Stellini has been tasked with guiding Tottenham to a top-four finish over the final 10 Premier League games of the 2022/23 campaign.

Stellini had a spell standing in for Conte during February when the former Spurs boss underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder.

Tottenham’s season was thrown into further chaos on Wednesday when it was revealed managing director of football Fabio Paratici’s ban in Italy had been extended worldwide.

Stellini, though, is confident he can help bring stability over the run-in, which continues at Everton on Monday night.

“I feel very honoured and feel I am in the right position to do this,” Stellini told SpursPlay.

“I want to do this with all the staff, with (assistant head coach) Ryan (Mason) that is very important for me and the club and it was important when we were in charge when Antonio wasn’t here.

“We feel we can do what we did before, we want to improve, and this is a moment to take responsibility and to improve, all together.”

Stellini added: “We have to continue the job. If we are here, it is because we did a good job. And if we are here is because we have to make this decision and make this real because we will work well in that moment.

“The players, us and everyone in the club has to do something more to help the club to help the players, to help the team because we need a team and we want to show to everyone that we are a team again.”

Stellini expressed his disappointment at the departure of close friend Conte.

“I’m feeling sad, because when you have a managerial change in the middle of the season, everyone feels responsible,” the Italian said.

“My relationship with Antonio is again the same, nothing changes in our relationship because we were friends, we were colleagues, we know each other for a long time and having this situation would not change our relationship.”

Tottenham forward Richarlison has shut down rumours over his alleged part in Conte’s departure and insisted he was not the “mutiny leader” behind the exit of his former manager.

Stellini admitted it had been a “tough week” at the club.

“Everyone needed to…