Stellini must do it his way to win over players and fans and stop his 'dream' turning into a nightmare

Spurs are banking on Stellini, who will be assisted by Ryan Mason, providing a winning combination of continuity and change but the appointment is clearly a risk.

- Dan Kilpatrick

CRISTIAN STELLINI admitted last month it was his “dream” to become a manager in his own right, but Tottenham’s new acting head coach can hardly have expected the opportunity to arise so soon and in these circumstances.

Stellini will manage Spurs for the final 10 games of the season with Antonio Conte’s blessing after the head coach left the club by mutual consent last night, but his entire backroom staff — with the exception of his brother, Gianluca — remained in place. It is an extraordinary and perhaps unprecedented situation.

Stellini’s association with Conte dates back two decades to their playing days at Juventus, and he assisted his mentor in Turin before following him to Inter Milan and Spurs.