Cristian Stellini has played down any chances of replacing Antonio Conte as Tottenham boss on a permanent basis.
The Italian, who was part of Conte’s backroom team in north London, was named as Spurs’ acting head coach following Conte’s departure from the club.
Several names have been linked with the Spurs job including Julien Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Vincent Kompany, who is reportedly a leading contender for the role.
But while speculation will continue to swirl, Stellini insists that the focus is on continuing the work done by Conte during the final weeks of the season.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday, Stellini said: “I want to clarify that the decision was taken for the best of the club and for everyone. Antonio is good.
“Everyone took the decision altogether for the best of the club. My relationship with Antonio is still the same, very close and nothing changed between us.
“I have to say thank you because I have improved a lot in my career under him and it’s because of him.
I do the best for him before and I do the best for him until the end of the season.”
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Stellini will lead Tottenham until the end of the season, with his first match in charge coming against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night – a fixture that is exclusively live on talkSPORT.
Asked if this spell is the next step to him becoming a manager in his own right, he added: “It’s the next step to work hard for the next ten games.
“Nothing has to change in my mind. I’m not here for vanity. I’m here to help this club.
“I have to be myself. I used myself, my character. We will see what happens during the process.
“We’ve had not many days together. We had a good day in the training and we followed in training what we did in the past.
“In the past, I have to be honest, we’ve changed some things in the tactics.”
Showdown Saturday on talkSPORT
On Saturday 1 April, it’s all kicking off on talkSPORT.
12:30pm: Starting the day, Man City host Liverpool in a key Premier League game.
3pm: Crystal Palace vs Leicester sees the return of Roy Hodgson to the Selhurst Park dugout.
7pm: Build-up begins for the heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin as AJ starts his route back to the top.
What. A. Day.
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