Cristian Stellini opens up on Conte leaving Spurs and him staying

Tottenham Hotspur’s new interim manager Cristian Stellini has been speaking to the press ahead of his first official game in charge, and has commented on his good friend Antonio Conte leaving the club recently.

Spurs announced last Sunday that they had parted ways with Conte after 16 months in charge. His former assistant, Stellini, has been given the manager’s job until the end of the season.

Cristian Stellini
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Conte and Stellini have been collaborators for many years, previously working together at Inter Milan and Juventus. Naturally, the pair have become close friends over their time working together.

It is thought Conte gave his blessing for Stellini to remain at Spurs after his departure (Telegraph).

The 48-year-old will now lead Tottenham for the remaining ten games of the season, starting with the visit to Everton on Monday night.

When asked about the fact Conte has now left the club and the decisions that were made regarding his own appointment, Stellini told Football.London: “I want to clarify that the decision was taken for the best of the club and for everyone.

“Antonio is good. Everyone took the decision altogether for the best of the club.

“My relationship with Antonio is still the same, very close and nothing changed between us.

“I have to say thank you because I have improved a lot in my career under him and it’s because of him.

“I do the best for him before and I do the best for him until the end of the season.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It must be strange for Stellini to be at Spurs without Conte.

Obviously he has been in charge already a few times this season, but that was when Conte was still the boss, and now Stellini has a really big chance to flourish on his own merit and step out of Conte’s shadow.

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