Fonseca: The reasons why Tottenham move collapsed | OneFootball

Former Roma coach Paulo Fonseca has revisited his collapsed move to Tottenham this summer.

Fonseca has revealed his move to Tottenham fell through at the last minute because sporting director Fabio Paratici wanted Spurs to play defensive football this season.

Former Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was appointed a fortnight later, just days before the club's pre-season campaign was due to start.

"The agreement was done," Fonseca told The Telegraph. "We were planning the pre-season and Tottenham wanted an offensive coach.

"It wasn't announced but we planned pre-season players. But things changed when the new managing director (Paratici) arrived and we didn't agree with some ideas and he preferred another coach.

"I have some principles. I wanted to be coach of the great teams but I want the right project and a club where the people believe in my ideas, my way to play, and this didn't happen with the managing director.

"It's what the chairman and the sporting director asked for. To build a team who can play attractive and offensive football and I was ready for that. I cannot be a different way.

"All my teams will have these intentions. In Rome or Shakhtar in the Champions League against the biggest teams, I'm not sending out my teams to defend near their own box."