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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Cristian Stellini's in-tray: 5 things unlikely Tottenham boss must do after taking role

Cristian Stellini has a huge job on his hands to steer Tottenham into the Champions League next season.

The 48-year-old will take charge of Spurs as acting head coach until the end of the campaign following Antonio Conte's departure on Sunday night. Ryan Mason will step up to become assistant head coach.

Daniel Levy said: "We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our Club and amazing, loyal supporters."

Tottenham sit inside the top four but will face stiff competition from Newcastle, Liverpool and Brighton to stay inside the Champions League places. They currently lie two points ahead of the Magpies, but Eddie Howe's side have two games in hand. As do Liverpool, although they are seven behind Spurs.

Here are five things Stellini must do after taking the role until the end of the season.

1. Solve the goalkeeper dilemma

Hugo Lloris is set to be available for Tottenham's first game without Conte as they make the trip to Everton. The France international has been out for almost two months since injuring his knee against Manchester City.

But stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster has impressed following his recent introduction into the side. He was even called up to the England squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers after an injury to Nick Pope.

Stellini has got to recall Lloris to the starting XI, however, despite how well Forster has been playing. The veteran ex-Lyon stopper is their club captain and can help drag Spurs towards Champions League qualification.

Hugo Lloris (Visionhaus/Getty Images)

2. Keep Kane onside

Harry Kane is Tottenham's most important player, there is no doubt about that. The 29-year-old has already scored an impressive 21 Premier League goals in a side that haven't set the world alight this season.

Although Erling Haaland is running away with it at the top of the scoring charts, he is in a team that create an abundance of opportunities and are free-flowing. Kane is arguably in the form of his career and Spurs need to keep it that way if they have any chance to finishing inside the Champions League positions.

3. Remain positive

Conte came out and blasted his players following the 3-3 draw against Southampton. Although he perhaps had good reason for a lot of his remarks, it wasn't the right timing and his words have cost him, while they may also have had a detrimental impact on the confidence of the squad.

During his time in temporary charge while Conte was recovering from gallbladder surgery, Stellini remained very upbeat and spoke glowingly about his group of players. That seemed to gauge a positive reaction from Tottenham, who won three out of four games during Stellini's time on the touchline.

Cristian Stellini (Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

4. Show confidence in Porro

Emerson Royal may be set for a spell out after he limped off while playing for Brazil against Morocco on Sunday. The Tottenham defender had played the full game before being taken off in injury-time.

Reports in Brazil suggest it doesn't look good, meaning Pedro Porro may be handed a sustained chance to cement his place in the starting XI. The Spaniard impressed in Tottenham's draw at Southampton, and scored his side's opening goal with a terrific drilled finish.

Porro looked a major threat down that right side and started to show why Spurs wanted to sign him so much, after struggling in his initial appearances, especially against Leicester where he was slammed by former boss Tim Sherwood. Stellini must now place confidence and belief in Porro to get the best out of the talented full-back.

Pedro Porro (Plumb Images/Leicester City FC)

5. What to do with Richarlison?

It's fair to say Richarlison's time at Tottenham has not gone quite as hoped - while Conte's exit comes after a parting row between the outgoing manager and his £60m signing.

After starting on the bench for the Champions League defeat to AC Milan, Richarlison hit out at his boss for failing to explain his omission.

"There are things I can't understand," he TNT Sports Brazil. "I didn't understand...I was playing well, we won against Chelsea and West Ham and suddenly I was on the bench. I played five minutes against Wolves, asked the reason and no-one told me why.

Richarlison has failed to find his best form at Tottenham (AFP via Getty Images)

"There was no explanation again, let's see what he [Conte] will tell us Thursday but I'm not silly, I'm a professional that works hard every day and I want to play."

Richarlison did concede his own season had been "s***" by his standards - a verdict Conte agreed with. But amid Son Heung-min's indifferent form, Spurs could have done with Richarlison firing to help their Champions League charge.

With Son first-choice on the left and Dejan Kulusevski preferred on the right-wing, Richarlison may now find it hard to get regular game time; but Stellini must find a way to keep him happy.

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