‘No-brainer’ – Pundit thinks recent Spurs form could create a manager problem

Stan Collymore has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur now run the risk of losing Cristian Stellini since the Italian has had some success overseeing the first team over recent weeks. 

With Antonio Conte continuing to recover in Italy after having surgery to remove his gallbladder, Stellini has overseen proceedings for all but two matches over the last month and the 48-year-old has a 100 per cent record.

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

When asked following Spurs’ win over West Ham if the team’s recent performances have given him the belief that he can be a manager, Tottenham’s assistant head coach insisted that it was the processes put in place by Conte that are responsible for the wins (Football.London).

Stellini also revealed that the 53-year-old is expected to be back at Hotspur Way this week before Tottenham’s trip to Molineux Stadium on Saturday.

Collymore believes that Conte’s trusted lieutenant might be tempted to go into management, now that he has got a taste of the top job, and added that several clubs around Europe could be ready to take a gamble on him.

The former Liverpool striker told CaughtOffSide: “Cristian Stellini is doing a great job in Antonio Conte’s absence.

“However, the problem for Spurs is, when the manager’s number two gets a taste for the outright manager’s job, they often have their head turned. 

“Of course, they’re going to want to experience it more because they’ve had a sample of what it feels like to be the top man – the one in charge – the man who is listened to.

“I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if clubs are looking at him and wondering if he’s worth taking a gamble on. 

“I don’t think any clubs in the Premier League, certainly not top-half sides anyway, will be willing to take a chance on him.

“Still, as for Championship teams, or the equivalent throughout Europe, in my view, it’s a no-brainer for them to be looking at Stellini.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Assistant coaches do sometimes get tempted to try their hand at the top job when they get a taste for it but that usually only happens if they are given an interim role for a couple of months, such as Tim Sherwood and Ryan Mason were at Spurs.

Stellini has effectively just stood in for Conte for a few weeks, with the 53-year-old continuing to make the big decisions from Italy.

So, I do think Tottenham’s assistant first-team coach being in a hurry to jump ship and take over a managerial job.

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