Spurs boss Cristian Stellini bemoaned the ‘worst 25 minutes I’ve ever seen’ as Tottenham embarrassingly capitulated at Newcastle.
After conceding five goals in the first 21 minutes, Stellini refused to blame his hapless players and claimed he was at fault for a formation change.
‘There are no words to explain a performance like this. The first 25 minutes were maybe the worst I have ever seen,’ he said.
Just 36 days after Antonio Conte blasted Spurs players for their mentality in his outburst after their 3-3 draw at Southampton, interim boss Stellini said that the blame for this humiliation lay with him for a failed back-four experiment.
‘The system we changed to give energy and mood was the wrong decision. If it is that, it is my responsibility. We changed the system, we played with four at the back and if it is a mistake, it is my mistake,’ Stellini added.
Tottenham suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle at St James’ Park
Interim boss Cristian Stellini has admitted that his gamble to play four at the back was ‘wrong’
‘We have to apologise with everyone and it is my responsibility because changing the system was my decision.’
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher questioned his decision to play a back four, with Stellini revealing that Spurs had trained with the system during the week after their defeat by Bournemouth.
‘How have they gone to a back four for the first time this season, with Porro a full back that can’t defend and Perisic who is a winger? Get a proper manager in, not Antonio Conte’s mate,’ said Carragher.
Stellini refused to answer when asked if he was concerned about his position and insisted he wanted to stay in charge for the rest of the season.
‘This is a question I have no answer for. It is not a question for me,’ he said.
With Spurs five goals down at half-time, Stellini also said he asked the players ‘to play the second half to save the face of the team.’
Eddie Howe insisted that regardless of Spurs’ formation, Newcastle’s relentless start to was exactly the kind of approach he wanted his side to take.
Tottenham conceded five goals in the opening 21 minutes before they changed their formation
‘I don’t think it’s formation dependent. We want to start games like that, especially at home. It’s easier said than done. The first goal changes everything.
‘It was an electric atmosphere and an electric performance from us. We were clinical in front of goal and everything went our way in that early stage,’ said the Toon boss.
With his side now six points clear of Spurs in fifth place, with a game in hand, Howe (left) again refused to talk about the prospect of a return to Champions League football.
‘I’d encourage the players to think that way (that they belong with the elite). We need that confidence. ‘We want the players to go into games, believing we are a superior team,’ said Howe.
