Harry Kane’s early second-half strike saw Tottenham Hotspur overcome a resolute Portsmouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, to secure Spurs’ place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Read the match report here, and player ratings here.
Just as he did in the pre-match press conference, Cristian Stellini took over from Antonio Conte to address the media after his side’s victory. Speaking to Football.London, Stellini highlighted the importance of simply getting through to the next round of the cup, irrespective of the nature of the performance:
“The first task is progress and we have to say compliments. Very good game, tough opposition, they played very compact, closed the space and were close to being perfect. We expected this type of game but they were so tough. It was a good game in the FA Cup because when you play a team from League One you expect this. This is good for the game and we enjoy more if we have this type of team.
“We had the control of the game for all of the 90 minutes but we didn’t create many chances in the first half because they were so compact and we were maybe focused on not to move the ball quickly. In the second half we tried to stretch them and create the space in the middle, with players changing position and it was good for Skippy and Harry to have great chances.”
Stellini then spoke of Yves Bissouma’s last-minute withdrawal from the starting line-up due to an ankle injury:
“It’s an injury that came from the last match. Bissouma has an ankle problem. He tried to push himself and we worked to have Bissouma on the pitch, but he was mature to say the truth and he was not 100%.
“It’s very good when the player speaks and tells us they are not 100% and it’s better to use a player that is available 100% as Skippy was and he played a good match. We are happy that Bissouma spoke the truth and we could make the right choice.”
Stellini then confirmed that Bissouma would be fit for next weekend’s North London derby, and praised his replacement, Oliver Skipp, and his midfield partner Pape Matar Sarr:
“Not one player [impressed me the most] in particular because young player, Skippy and Pape, they are so important in our rotation, because last season and the start of this season we used Rodrigo and Pierre a lot and we need reliable players.
“Also if they’re young it’s important that we give minutes and rotation and it’s a different choice. They were so good today, they moved a lot, they move the ball and I think Pape Sarr, Skippy and Gil they were all so good today.”
Stellini then praised Harry Kane for his match-winning contribution, with today’s goal leaving him just one goal behind Jimmy Greaves in Spurs’ all-time goalscorer charts:
“We know very well that this type of player sometimes when the fixture is tough, they maybe need some time to rest, this is not this moment because it is true Harry arrived later than others (from the World Cup) but we don’t have many players.
“Also it is good with this type of player to play this type of game to have possibility to find solutions with team-mates. Harry is amazing, is amazing so when you see Harry play, you feel and enjoy the football.”
Have your say on today’s victory on the Vital Spurs Fan Forum here.