Tottenham interim boss Cristian Stellini has called on his side to produce a strong performance ahead of the club’s crucial clash with in-form Brighton.
Spurs take on the Seagulls in the Premier League this weekend, with both sides competing for a place in the top four and Champions League qualification.
Spurs are fifth in the Premier League table, one place and four points ahead of Roberto De Zerbi’s side. However, Brighton have two games in hand on the north Londoners and have lost just once in 11 league fixtures since the turn of the new year.
“We have to respect Brighton but we are Tottenham in our own stadium and so we have to go strong,” Stellini told his pre-match press conference.
“Tottenham has to play for the top four every time, until mathematically it’s not possible.”
Stellini has been placed in interim charge until the end of the season following Antonio Conte’s exit, but admits the club’s injury list will limit the impact he can have across the remainder of the campaign.
“At the moment, not something special because we have not enough players. We have a lot of injured players. With the type of players we have perhaps cannot change us tactically. We were preparing something different in the past month but now we have to be patient.”
Stellini revealed his options remain unchanged from the draw at Everton on Monday night, but confirmed that Richarlison is closing in on a first-team return.
“No good news about players that come back for the next game,” he said.
“We are getting closer with Richarlison. He trained on the pitch but he trained alone. He is going well. I think for the next game, he could be available. We are going well with Ben Davies on the plan, but with Ben we will have to wait a bit of time.”
