Tottenham’s Cristian Stellini gives Antonio Conte verdict and reveals conversation before accepting job

Tottenham acting manager Cristian Stellini says he has the blessing of Antonio Conte who was key in his decision to accept the role and lead the team in the next 10 games.

Antonio Conte only took his brother, Gianluca Conte with him- leaving behind his trusted assistant Stellini to try and secure Champions League football for the north London club.

Stellini’s decision to stay behind though has raised a few eyebrows given how close he’s been with Antonio, but the 48-year-old confirmed he only agreed to take the job because his boss gave him his blessing.

He told reporters ahead of the Everton game on Monday night: “I want to clarify that this decision was taken for the best of the club and from everyone, so the decision was taken from everyone.

“Antonio is good. Everyone takes the decision all together for the club and my relationship with Antonio is still the same, very close.

“Nothing changed between me and him, I have to say thanks to him also because I improved a lot in my career until now and why I improve is because of Antonio. Antonio is important and I do the best for him until now.”

Antonio Conte’s rant after the disappointing 3-3 draw essentially made his job in north London untenable but Stellini says the result at the St Mary’s was disappointing and everyone was well within their right to express their opinion.

He added: “Antonio said what he felt at that moment and of course we were not happy at the end of the game in Southampton because we won 3-1 and we thought we could reach that result, but the game changed.

“The power of Southampton increased and we conceded two goals and drew, all teams felt disappointment.”

Tottenham will get a feel of what the Stellini era will look like when they travel to Goodison on Monday night, coincidentally, that was Antonio Conte’s first game as Tottenham boss and Everton had Richarlison as their striker that day.