Tottenham Hotspur have sacked acting head coach Cristian Stellini following their 6-1 defeat at Newcastle United, with Ryan Mason taking over the role for the second time. Stellini had stepped up from his role as assistant head coach to replace Antonio Conte until the end of the season when Conte left the club at the end of March. However, he was unable to turn things around for Spurs, who are currently six points adrift of the Champions League places in fifth place.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy released a statement in which he took responsibility for the poor performance against Newcastle, describing it as "wholly unacceptable" and "devastating to see". He also expressed his gratitude to Stellini and his coaching staff for their conduct during a challenging time and wished them well for the future. Meanwhile, Levy expressed his confidence in Mason, stating that he knows the club and the players well.
The decision to sack Stellini comes after he switched Spurs to a back four for their game against Newcastle, a move that backfired as the team conceded five goals in the opening 21 minutes. Stellini took responsibility for the result after the game, describing the first 25 minutes as the worst he had ever seen in football.
Following the defeat, the Tottenham hierarchy, including Levy, held an inquest into the result on Monday morning, with discussions held over what the right course of action should be ahead of their game against Manchester United. Ultimately, the decision was taken to part ways with Stellini.
The decision to sack Stellini has led to anger among some Tottenham fans, who have been critical of the club's recent decisions, including the failed attempts to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo and the sacking of Jose Mourinho just six days before a cup final. However, the club remains focused on salvaging their season, with Mason set to take charge of the next two big games against Manchester United and Liverpool.
The decision to appoint Mason as the interim head coach has led to questions about the club's search for a permanent successor, with some suggesting that the club may not be as advanced in their search as they would like. However, Tottenham are fully expecting to appoint a permanent manager, with experienced managers such as Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique being touted as potential candidates.
Former Tottenham captain Michael Dawson has urged the players to show some character in the wake of the defeat, stating that they need to take responsibility for the result. He also expressed his hope that the players went home hurting, describing the defeat as "devastating" and "there's nowhere to hide" when you lose in such a manner.
In conclusion, Tottenham Hotspur have sacked acting head coach Cristian Stellini following their 6-1 defeat at Newcastle United, with Ryan Mason taking over the role for the second time. The decision to sack Stellini has led to questions about the club's search for a permanent successor, but Tottenham remain focused on salvaging their season, with Mason set to take charge of the next two big games against Manchester United and Liverpool. The defeat has led to anger among some Tottenham fans, with former captain Michael Dawson urging the players to take responsibility for the result.
