Cristian Stellini unique: Tottenham assistant says Antonio Conte’s absence means gamers are taking extra accountability | Soccer Information

When Tottenham welcome West Ham to north London on Sunday afternoon, Cristian Stellini would be the major man within the dugout as soon as once more.

Earlier this week, it was introduced that Spurs head coach Antonio Conte would stay in Italy – following the 1-0 defeat to AC Milan within the Champions League – after a post-operation test that adopted current gallbladder surgical procedure.

And so, because of this, his assistant and countryman will step up take cost for the third time this season.

The primary event got here in a 2-1 Champions League win over Marseille in November, when Conte was pressured to serve a touchline ban, the second was a 1-0 win over Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League on February 5.

Two wins from two isn’t unhealthy going for a person whose expertise main a group outright equates to 5 months answerable for Serie C outfit Alessandria again in 2017.

However any suggestion that he’s having fun with this expertise is rapidly refuted. This can be a case of holding the fort, nothing extra.

“My feeling is to not take pleasure in this; my feeling is to be accountable,” he says in an unique interview with Sky Sports activities at Tottenham’s Hotspur Approach coaching advanced.

“I really feel the strain. It is a second that I have to develop as a coach and when it’s a must to take necessary choices, it’s a must to really feel accountable.

Sunday nineteenth February 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

“It isn’t about me, it is concerning the membership, the followers, the gamers, our jobs, our lives. It is rather more necessary than my emotions.”

It’s most actually a welcome bonus that he has a direct line to Conte, who’s staying abreast of group issues as he takes time to recuperate at his household residence, albeit midway throughout Europe.

The pair – who beforehand labored with each other at Juventus and Inter Milan – are in touch “many instances a day”, however whereas Stellini admits Conte must take time to get well sufficiently, he’s fighting being away from the day-to-day working of the group.

He continues: “Antonio is recovering and is a bit upset as a result of he can’t be right here with us. However he is superb, bodily. We perceive he must get well from the surgical procedure and now he must take his time.

“We do not know if the ache [he felt during the AC Milan game] got here from stress or the small time he took to get well as a result of to remain in cost and dwell soccer like Antonio does usually is with ardour and possibly this ardour introduced extra ache for him. He understands that he got here again too early.

“He’s out there. We communicate concerning the group and coaching every single day and a few choices we’ll take collectively.

“However this time is sweet just for his restoration as a result of when Antonio is much from his job, he isn’t pleased. He’s happier right here, working with us and the group. Perhaps it is a totally different sort of stress, however he must take it simple. I haven’t got an thought when he will probably be again, although.”

So how have the gamers responded to Stellini stepping up on a number of events?

“They’re targeted,” Stellini explains. “On this side I really feel excellent and cozy as a result of after I look the gamers within the eyes, I really feel they’re taking extra accountability as a result of Antonio isn’t right here.

“Additionally they care for me as a result of my relationship with them is particular, like each assistant supervisor wants. I can really feel that the gamers need to do it additionally as a result of they like after we work collectively.

“It is unusual [to step up] as a result of it is a totally different job. It was actually unusual to be in cost for one recreation [vs Marseille], however I had the coach with me. Now it is totally different as a result of the coach isn’t right here, however I really feel Antonio’s presence with me.

“I need to say clearly, I am not alone. We’re in cost collectively, we organise every part collectively and with all of the workers.”

Spurs go into Sunday’s match following successive defeats to Leicester and AC Milan and stay fifth within the Premier League desk, albeit having performed two video games greater than Brighton, who’re 4 factors behind in sixth.

Stellini admits he noticed enhancements within the Milan recreation, however is searching for his gamers to step up one other notch towards the Hammers, who’ve drawn with Newcastle and Chelsea of their final two league outings.

“We’re unhappy as a result of after the Man Metropolis win, we thought we could possibly be a lot better, a lot stronger,” he says.

“My feeling was the Leicester recreation got here precisely three days earlier than the AC Milan recreation and that may have an effect on the group. We now have to simply accept that.

“The AC Milan efficiency was a lot better than Leicester. It was a recreation the place we conceded a aim in a scenario we may management and my expectation is to play an excellent recreation on Sunday towards West Ham as a result of we want and deserve it. We need to play a recreation and win.

“We now have to be cautious as a result of West Ham have a specific ability, they’re robust. On this league, not many golf equipment have any such ability. They’ve energy, they’re tall, they’re robust in counter-attacks, robust in set-pieces, so they are going to be troublesome to play towards.

“We all know it is a derby in our stadium in entrance of our followers and we need to play an excellent recreation and present from the beginning that we’re a group.”

Towards Milan, the north Londoners began with Oliver Skipp, 22, and Pape Matar Sarr, 20, in midfield, owing to Rodrigo Bentancur’s season-ending ACL damage and a suspension for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

With a touch of a smile, Stellini speaks extremely of the younger pair and explains how necessary a component they will play throughout a time when the membership goes by an damage disaster of types, with Hugo Lloris, Ryan Sessegnon and Yves Bissouma all sidelined for prolonged durations, too.

“Rodrigo was an necessary participant final season as a result of we reached our goal with Hojbjerg and Bentancur collectively for a very long time. We now have to simply accept shedding Bentancur for a very long time.

“It is harmful, but additionally we’re pleased in the mean time with the performances of Skipp and Sarr. We now have two younger gamers prepared. We now have repeated many instances that we belief in all of the younger gamers and likewise Pape and Skippy now are the truth.

“Not solely are they younger gamers, they’ll play and must play sooner or later. They had been wonderful [against Milan]. They had been utterly targeted on the sport they usually by no means got here out of the sport. They created an excellent steadiness for us defensively, offensively and within the transition; they stopped the transition of AC Milan many instances.”

Whether or not that partnership continues within the short-term stays to be seen, however, no matter occurs, the very fact Spurs have a transparent week earlier than going through Chelsea at residence subsequent Sunday can solely show helpful to its development.

And with Conte seemingly not anticipated again at Hotspur Approach within the rapid future, that point will undoubtedly show precious to Stellini and the gamers so as to minimise disruption.

“To have a full week to organize for a recreation is necessary, as a result of you’ve little time and in some points you can’t work when have a tricky schedule the place we play each three days. We’ll use this week to not solely have a relaxation day, but additionally to work in some points to play many video games.”

Spurs are in good arms in Conte’s absence – and, all being properly, he would possibly discover them in a good higher spot when he returns.

Watch Tottenham vs West Ham on Sky Sports activities Premier League on Tremendous Sunday from 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm