‘Respect the plan’ – Stellini explains what Spurs players failed to do vs Everton
Cristian Stellini has admitted that Tottenham should have controlled the game better and created more chances following Abdoulaye Doucoure’s sending-off.
Despite Antonio Conte’s departure, there was an air of familiarity with Tottenham’s performance against Goodison Park, with the away side being hesitant to press from the front or commit too many bodies in attack.
They received a big break just before the hour mark as Everton were reduced to ten men after Doucoure shoved Harry Kane in the face.
Ten minutes later, Kane stepped up to give Spurs the lead from the penalty spot after Cristian Romero was fouled in the Everton box.
The away side failed to make their numerical advantage count by adding to the lead and were eventually punished in the final minute of normal time as Michael Keane unleashed a spectacular long-range striker, just minutes after Lucas Moura had been given his marching orders for a foul on the Everton defender.
Stellini admitted that his side should have exercised more control in the final 30 minutes of the game.
The Italian told Football.London: “I think we didn’t lead the game after the red card.
“We had the chance to control the game better than we did. Because you have one extra player you have to lead the game, move the ball side by side.
“But sometimes we were rushed, frantic. We have to improve in this aspect, we know very well. It’s a long process, we don’t change it in one night. We change it in a long process.”
Stellini also seemed to suggest that the players did not follow the game plan that he and the coaching staff put in place following Doucoure’s red card.
The interim Spurs head coach continued: “Keeping the ball, moving the ball quickly and finding the space to attack.
“This is the way we play the game with an extra man – you have to do much better. It’s about intention to keep the ball, to wait to find the right moment to score.
“We had some chances but we didn’t find the way to score. It’s ok, but also you need players ready to move and to respect the plan.
“The plan was clear in my idea, and with one extra player we can do it better than this, absolutely.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Given the type of football we have played for the majority of the campaign, we simply do not deserve to be in next season’s Champions League.
It is clear that the players have lost faith in this system, which is one of the reasons why the decision to leave Stellini in charge is a little baffling.
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