Tottenham acting head coach Cristian Stellini has admitted the club has endured a “chaotic” fortnight but denied Spurs are in crisis after Antonio Conte’s departure.
Conte’s exit was confirmed on Sunday night following an explosive news conference on March 18 in which the 53-year-old criticised Spurs’ owners and the players’ attitude after allowing a 3-1 lead to slip to draw 3-3 at Southampton.
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Stellini was put in temporary charge for the rest of the season alongside assistant coach Ryan Mason but by Wednesday, the club suffered a fresh setback when FIFA announced Spurs’ managing director Fabio Paratici would receive a worldwide ban from football activities.
Paratici was handed a 30-month ban from Italian football in January after his former club Juventus were found guilty of falsifying financial accounts.
After a request from the Italian Football Association, FIFA agreed that suspension would apply globally, throwing Tottenham’s search for a permanent successor into further turmoil with Paratici apparently barred from being involved. Spurs are seeking further clarification from FIFA.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has expressed “extreme concern” at the club’s current state but reflecting on the past two weeks, Stellini said at a press conference on Friday: “A bit chaotic but we have big shoulders to consider this type of situation. We had an international break and that helped because we had time to think about everything and then the club, everyone of us has to take a decision and the decision was taken for the best of everyone.
“It is not a club in crisis, absolutely not because everyone took the decision for the best. When you follow the process, you are not in crisis and if we have some matters, we have to be compact, we have to stick together, go ahead, continue to move on and play the match.
“It important for us to play matches, try to win matches and show our desire. This is what we do normally. We cannot not be aware of the decision that the club takes but we can be focused only on the pitch. This is our job. So, we are not confused. We are focused on our job.”
