MY ACCOUNT
Cristian Stellini has called on Tottenham to take more risks as they approach the first of “eight finals” in the race to secure a top-four Premier League finish.
Tottenham approach Saturday’s meeting with Bournemouth three points adrift of Newcastle United and Manchester United in the battle for Champions League qualification, having played one game more than both sides.
Despite only Arsenal and Manchester City bettering their tally of 55 Premier League goals this term, Spurs attracted criticism for a perceived negative approach under Stellini’s predecessor Antonio Conte.
With Tottenham facing an uphill task to reach Europe’s premier club competition for a second season in a row, the club’s acting head coach is aware they need to step things up in attack.
“We have to play the eight final games like eight finals,” Stellini said. “We started with Brighton and now we have eight games. We have to play attacking football.
“We are trying to push more to create more chances, to try to shoot more on target, to create something that can create a good atmosphere in the stadium, and to get the crowd behind us.
“I think we played many games in the past that were really attractive. For me, it is important to win games in this moment and not only to think about how attractive our football is.”
Tottenham’s last game – a controversial 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion – was marred by a mass confrontation involving members of both teams’ coaching staff, which saw Stellini and opposite number Roberto De Zerbi sent off.
Both teams were charged by the Football Association in the aftermath of that incident, though Stellini and De Zerbi both appear to have avoided touchline bans.
Reflecting on the incident, Stellini said: “What we created in that moment was not a good impression for anyone. Maybe for the atmosphere we created, the decision is good.
“We have to be better and personally, I am happy we showed we are a team, we are linked, we are close and we defend ourselves and our club.
“At the same time, I am happy because I feel I was not involved in anything, so it is a good decision that I stay on the touchline for tomorrow.”
Asked if he had spoken to De Zerbi since the game, Stellini said: “No. This type of thing stays on the pitch, you forget this type of situation immediately after the game. Everything is fine for me.”
