Micah Richards slams Cristian Stellini for bizarre full-back decision in Newcastle thrashing but insists players also have to take 'responsibility'...while Chris Sutton labels Antonio Conte as a 'traitor' for causing Spurs chaos

Micah Richards believes Cristian Stellini's decision to use Ivan Perisic and Pedro Porro at full-back against Newcastle on Sunday were decisive contributions to his sacking on Monday.

The Italian was appointed as interim coach until the end of the season after his former boss Antonio Conte left the club in March. He lasted just four games before Daniel Levy decided to remove him from his role.

Spurs collapsed to a humiliating 6-1 defeat at St James' Park with their defence conceding five goals in the opening 21 minutes.

Former Man City defender Richards criticised Stellini's decision to set Tottenham up in a four-man defence for the first time since January 2022 against a Newcastle side charging towards the Champions League qualification places. 

'I mean we always say when you're a manager if you want credibility you have to do what you want to do,' Richard's said on the BBC's Monday Night Club.

Micah Richards has blamed the majority of Tottenham's 6-1 defeat at Newcastle on the now-departed Cristian Stellini (pictured)

'He goes with four at the back at Newcastle and when you haven't tried that formation for a long time, Perisic as a left-back, Pedro Porro as a right-back, what was he asking for. 

'They are at Newcastle who are absolutely flying, what is Perisic known for? His technical ability, crossing it in. Pedro Porro the same, if you are up against Newcastle who are flying and asked to defend wave after wave of attack, that's on manager for putting you in that position. 

'The manager has to take responsibility for team he put up, he knew he made a mistake, but the players have to take responsibility of course they do. 

'Some of the goals they conceded were pathetic, not just on the manager but he has to take responsibility for the team he plays.'

Former Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason has been left in charge for the club's six remaining Premier League games of the season.

Levy will continue his search for the club's fourth permanent manager in two years, but Sportsmail's Chris Sutton targeted previous boss Antonio Conte as the main reason for ongoing chaos at Tottenham.

'This can't all be on Stellini, Spurs statement is interesting Daniel Levy saying 'I am taking responsibility for it'. A lot of people myself included when they went for Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, thought they were good appointments.

'Where I do feel sorry for Levy is Conte ended up being a traitor and letting Levy down and throwing him, the supporters and players under the bus. 

'He is a fire-starter, this was always going to go one or tow ways, he is gone and fact of the matter is he hasn't taken any of the responsibility. From Levy's point of view he was really let down by Conte,' he added.