Cristian Stellini shocked by Tottenham Hotspur’s woeful collapse at Newcastle United amid reports he could be sacked

LONDON – Interim manager Cristian Stellini said Tottenham Hotspur’s performance in the first 25 minutes of Sunday’s humiliating 6-1 thrashing by Newcastle United was perhaps “the worst” he had ever seen and, according to widespread reports, it could earn him the sack.

Spurs began the game with four at the back but conceded five goals in the opening 21 minutes, prompting Stellini to replace midfielder Pape Matar Sarr with defender Davinson Sanchez and revert to their usual back three.

“There are no words to explain a performance like this. The first 25 minutes were maybe the worst I have ever seen,” said Stellini.

“I hope that the system that we changed, to give us energy, was the wrong decision. If it was that, it’s my responsibility. We played with four at the back and if this is the mistake, it’s my mistake.”

Club captain Hugo Lloris added: “It’s very embarrassing. We should apologise to the fans.

“We were late in all aspects of the game and we completely missed the first part of the game...

“It is not even about tactics. We just could not fight and we were late. It is difficult right now to assess the performances but there was a lack of pride...

“If you go on the pitch without the desire to show aggressiveness, to win duels, to win the battle, it makes things very hard... It was a big mess. We can’t hide behind the club’s problems.”

Stellini has taken charge of four games, winning just one, since Antonio Conte’s dismissal in March following an outburst where he called his players “selfish” and questioned the club’s culture.

Last week, Fabio Paratici resigned as Tottenham’s managing director of football after his appeal against a 30-month ban from football over his role in transfer deals and finances while at former club Juventus was rejected by Italy’s top sports body.

Stellini could soon follow him out the door, according to reports in the British media.

The Guardian, the Athletic, Sky Sports and the Daily Mail all reported that Spurs are considering whether to sack the caretaker boss, with his assistant and former Tottenham youth product Ryan Mason the leading candidate to replace the Italian.

Former Spurs and England winger Chris Waddle said on the BBC: “When you get rid of your manager and your assistant plays the same way, then it isn’t going to change...

“Tottenham have had a lot of managers for the last few seasons and nothing has worked – they don’t have an identity.

“They need to rip up the script and rewrite it. They need to get a new manager in who will play entertaining football on the front foot.”

Former Spurs and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas went further, saying Stellini’s appointment “felt like they had given up on the season, and that way of thinking has fed through to the team”.

If Spurs are looking for a different option, Harry Redknapp has put his hand up.

The former Spurs manager told talkSPORT: “It is very, very unlikely they will come knocking for me. But if they did, of course I’d go back and take it.”

Pundits have savaged Spurs after the hammering by the Magpies in what was supposed to be a clash of Premier League top-four rivals.

Former Newcastle and England winger Kieron Dyer told Sky Sports: “There was a lot made about Antonio Conte when he came out with his outburst, but this is why he did it. Everything he said has come true.

“Spurs cost the manager his job, they’re that bad... Spurs have let the fans down, they’ve let everyone associated with the club down.”

Jenas, meanwhile, suggested the club’s hierarchy are as much to blame as the players.

He wrote in his BBC column: “This kind of mess is nothing new at Spurs – you can take it back as far as you like.

“I can’t think of another club that would sack their manager the week before a cup final, like they did with Jose Mourinho ahead of the League Cup final in 2021, but Tottenham did.

“This time, they got rid of Antonio Conte with 10 Premier League games to go. Conte played his own part in that decision with his behaviour of course, but how can you make a change at that stage of the season without having a new manager to come in?” REUTERS