Paratici explains thinking behind giving Stellini the Spurs job until the summer

Fabio Paratici claims that Tottenham believe the tactical continuity that Cristian Stellini brings will give the side the best chance of finishing in the top four this season.

Tottenham’s decision to appoint Stellini as interim head coach and Ryan Mason as his assistant caught many people off guard as one would have expected Conte’s loyal assistant to follow him out of the door at Spurs.

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

Some reports over the last few days have indicated that Conte gave Stellini his blessings to stay on until the end of the season and help the team finish in the top four (Telegraph).

The 48-year-old did take charge of the team almost through the entirety of February when Conte was recovering in Italy from his gall-bladder surgery, and he boasts of an excellent record when he has overseen proceedings.

Paratici suggested that it would have not been helpful to bring in a new head coach and ask the players to adapt to completely new tactics, given that there are only ten matches left this season.

The Spurs managing director of football told the club’s official website: “So, Cristian managed the team even when Antonio was sick this season and was good.

“He has a lot of experience as a second and he was even first coach in the past, in some years in the past.

“Then we have even Ryan Mason who can help him a lot. he has been a part of this Club for a long time, and he knows everything about this Club and this kind of group of players.

“So, I think we are really really really confident that these two people can do a very very good job.

“The players don’t have to change habits and style of training so, to change everything when you have just 10 games to go, I think would be really difficult for to the players to adapt to this kind of situation.”

It is also worth noting that Paratici himself may not be around come the summer, after his 30-month footballing ban was extended worldwide today (Guardian).

Spurs Web Opinion

While Paratici’s point regarding tactical continuity is understandable, I suspect the real reason Spurs gave the job to Stellini is that their top managerial targets were not available until the summer.

The likes of Nagelsmann, Pochettino and De Zerbi would have probably not wanted the job until the end of the season.

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