Cristian Stellini claims Tottenham lack 'hunger' to win trophies

Tottenham assistant Cristian Stellini has questioned the squad's mentality after their crushing FA Cup exit at the hands of Sheffield United left them facing another season without silverware.

Already facing uphill battles in both the Premier League and Champions League, Spurs went into Wednesday's meeting with a weakened Sheffield United side knowing the FA Cup was perhaps their final chance of winning a trophy this season.

It ended in defeat, however, as the Championship side secured a 1-0 victory which could end up having major ramifications on the futures of a number of influential figures at the club, with manager Antonio Conte and striker Harry Kane both known to be focused on the team's ability to win trophies.

Stellini, who is temporarily in charge as Conte prepares to return from gallbladder surgery, admitted Spurs have the talent to win silverware but joined the doubters of the team's mentality when it comes to high-pressure situations.

"Every season, sometimes it's better and sometimes lower, but every season it is similar so it's a problem that Tottenham is out in the fifth round of the FA Cup," he said. "We have to change this. We want to change this.

"When we speak to each other. We speak about this and if we want, in the future, we can have this."

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The assistant continued: "Sometimes I feel we speak too much about trophies and less about the mentality. This is the difficult thing. You have to find this hunger inside of you, inside the dressing room, inside the players, inside the staff, inside the club.

"Everyone participates to create this kind of atmosphere, to feel how important it is to win games, to win every game.

"The mentality we showed in the last game is the reality. The approach was not good, not the mentality we need.

"What happened is in the past. Done, finished. I'm not here to analyse what happened in the last ten years. I'm here to analyse what happens from now into the future. We need to change this."

Stellini will remain in control of Spurs for Saturday's meeting with Wolves, after which Conte is expected to return and begin preparations for the Champions League clash with AC Milan, who hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.

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On this week's edition of TFP, Harry Symeou hosts Grizz Khan, Scott Saunders and Hunter Godson to preview the weekend's Premier League action, including Man Utd's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

If you can't see this embed, click here to watch the video!