'It is my responsibility': Cristian Stellini refuses to blame his players for Tottenham's embarrassing 6-1 defeat against Newcastle... as he admits his defensive gamble to switch to four at the back was a 'mistake'

Cristian Stellini refused to blame the Tottenham players after they capitulated in embarrassing fashion against Newcastle, conceding five goals in the first 21 minutes at St James' Park.

'There are no words to explain a performance like this. The first 25 minutes were maybe the worst I have ever seen,' said Stellini.

Just 36 days after Antonio Conte blasted the Tottenham players for their mentality in his dramatic outburst after their 3-3 draw at Southampton, the interim Spurs boss insisted that the responsibility for their humiliating defeat lay with him for a failed back four experiment.