Stellini warns Spurs fans about changing tactics and being more attacking

Cristian Stellini has hinted that Tottenham fans cannot expect him to do something too different tactically to what we have seen for much of the season as his footballing philosophy is similar to that of Antonio Conte.

Some Spurs fans would have perhaps hoped that Stellini would take off the handbrakes a little following Conte’s departure but the Lilywhites’ performance against Everton was similar to the ones that the team have served up over recent months.

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

Tottenham failed to control proceedings or fashion clear-cut chances despite having a man advantage for almost 30 minutes in the second half.

However, Stellini insisted his side’s failure to win against Everton was not down to tactical decisions that were made on the day.

When asked about potentially changing up the tactical approach to the one Spurs have had under Conte, the interim head coach told Football.London: “You have to accept that I was an assistant manager for a long time with Antonio so we have to accept that my mind came from this history.

“But I don’t think that as a manager if you change something different, you have a different result [at Everton].

“It is in the mind of the player and in the way you want to play a match that change this.”

Stellini also remarked that just putting more attacking players on the pitch would not equate to Spurs creating more chances.

The 48-year-old continued: “It is not because you play with six strikers that you can attack better.

“Maybe you have to use the right way to attack and to keep position and to let the players understand which type of game are you playing.

“It is like when you play with one player more, you have to understand the game you have to play. This is much more important.

“This is about experience, this is about a moment you have to live and all the players have to think the same thing in the right moment, in the same moment. This is very important.”

The Italian revealed that he is not having any trouble sleeping despite the increased rigours of the top job, adding that it was something Conte was always envious of.

When asked if the additional responsibility is keeping him up at night, Stellini responded: “Normally I sleep well in the night.

“Sometimes Antonio was jealous of this because he said, ‘why can you sleep?’ We are not the same.

“I’m joking, but normally I sleep because if I sleep I can use my mind better. I’ve lived in football for a long time.

“There are different pressures but I can say that working for Antonio, you live under pressure. I have this type of habit to live under pressure. Also, I like sometimes to do it.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I do not think most Spurs fans were expecting Stellini to make big tactical changes, given that he has worked with Conte for almost the entirety of his coaching career.

However, I did expect the players to play with a little more freedom since they would not have the same fear of failure without Conte at the helm. On the evidence of the Everton game, that was clearly not the case.

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