Fabio Paratici has broken his silence after Tottenham parted company with manager Antonio Conte on Sunday evening. The club placed Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason in caretaker charge until the end of the season as they seek to retain their place in next season's Champions League.
As the man in charge of footballing operations at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Paratici is expected to be heavily involved in the search for a new permanent manager. However, he did not comment on the Italian's exit in Spurs' official statement, with only chairman Daniel Levy speaking.
Paratici's future in north London has been called into question over recent months, after he received a 30-month ban from Italian football by the Italian FA for his senior role in former club Juventus' alleged financial mismanagement. These suspensions could be lifted if Juve are cleared of any wrongdoing, but is otherwise expected to be expanded to the rest of the world by UEFA and FIFA, likely leading to his Spurs tenure coming to a premature end.
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In the meantime, Paratici has issued an update to Spurs supporters via a four-minute video on the club's social media accounts. During which, he offered his sympathies to the outgoing Conte, after suffering personal heartache this campaign, but believes that club has made the right decision in parting company and appointing Stellini and Mason in a short-term manner.
"We know how difficult it's been this season for him [Conte] personally," Paratici said. "The club supported him a lot about it but then we arrived at this mutual agreement and I think the decision we made was the right decision to everyone.
"So Cristian [Stellini] managed the team when Antonio was sick this season and was good. He has a lot of experience as a second and he was made even first coach in the past.
"So then we have Ryan Mason who can help him a lot. He has been a part of this club for a long time, he knows everything about this club and this group of players so I think we are really really really confident that these two people can make a very good job.
"The players don't have to change habits and style for training so changing everything when you have just 10 games to go I think would be really difficult for the players.
"I think the pathway for the club was good, and then of course we are disappointed because we can be better in FA against Sheffield and every time you lose one game you regret about it. Of course we are focused and looking forward about being better arriving at the end of the season, and the next season be better again."
Paratici urged supporters to get behind the side for the two-month run-in starting this weekend. He also indicated no decision on a permanent successor is imminent, as he reiterated their full focus is on supporting the current duo over the final 10 league games.
He added: "The Premier League always is tough, we have a lot of teams who are really really prepared, but we fight, we are like them, we will fight to achieve our target, we are ready to fight until the end of the season. We have to have everyone focused on the last part of the season.
"We don't want to speak about other coaches or follow the speculation in the media because it is just speculation. We are focused, we are now concentrating on helping Cristian and help the staff, Ryan, the players.
"I think today we are have to be focused on our squad and on our manager, because it's an important moment. My message for the supporters is to continue to support like they did until now because they are really amazing."
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