Cristian Stellini has told Spurs' shrinking violets: “We are Tottenham - play like a team and respect the game plan.”
As players, Stellini and Roberto De Zerbi crossed paths in Italian football 15 years ago, when RDZ was a combative No.10 with a nifty line in trash-talk at struggling Avellino and Tottenham's interim head coach was helping Bari win promotion to Serie A as champions.
But if De Zerbi's soaring Seagulls leave north London with the spoils on Saturday, Spurs will need another miracle to finish in the top four – and the fans' mood on White Hart Lane will turn toxic. Stellini is demanding urgent atonement for the craven surrender of a 1-0 lead against 10-man Everton.
