Antonio Conte left Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent Sunday after he ridiculed “selfish players” and the club’s identity during a now-infamous post-match tirade.

“They don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure; they don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way,” the Italian said after Spurs drew 3-3 with Southampton on March 18. “Tottenham’s story is this: 20 years there is the owner (Daniel Levy), and they’ve never won something. Why?”

Cristian Stellini, who served as Conte’s assistant, has taken charge of the team until the end of the season. Former Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason will assist him in the role.

Tottenham wanted to talk to Julian Nagelsmann about potentially succeeding Conte, The Guardian’s David Hytner reported Friday, but nothing materialized from their apparent interest. Nagelsmann’s surprising sacking as Bayern Munich head coach was confirmed the same day.

Stellini, 47, will be immediately tasked with securing a top-four finish for Spurs and thereby clinching a place in next season’s Champions League. Tottenham are currently fourth in the Premier League table, albeit with Newcastle United just two points behind and with two games in hand. Sixth-placed Liverpool have also played two fewer matches than Tottenham and are seven points adrift of fourth place.

The north London outfit’s quest for their first piece of silverware since the 2008 League Cup is on hold until next season after AC Milan kicked them out of the Champions League round of 16 earlier in March. Spurs were eliminated from the League Cup by Nottingham Forest and from the FA Cup by second-tier Sheffield United.

“We have 10 Premier League games remaining, and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place,” Spurs owner Levy said. “We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our club and amazing, loyal supporters.”

Bayern Munich could sack Julian Nagelsmann as head coach after the German giants fell to second place and one point behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga table, according to insider Fabrizio Romano.

Thomas Tuchel is apparently the leading candidate to replace Nagelsmann.

Bayern are “seriously considering” making a move soon, with the decision being discussed internally, Romano reports.

The Bavarians are still competing for silverware in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League, but Nagelsmann has come under increased pressure after league defeats to Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen since mid-February.

Nagelsmann was widely criticized for labeling the officials who oversaw the Monchengladbach defeat as “spineless” and recently claimed there was a “mole” in the squad leaking tactics after some of his plans appeared in weekly magazine Sport-Bild.

Tuchel was fired by Chelsea in September 2022 but remains a popular figure at Stamford Bridge after winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup during his 19-and-a-half-month spell in the dugout.

He previously led Dortmund to DFB-Pokal glory in 2017 and guided Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title and successes in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.

The eight teams remaining in this season’s Champions League learned their respective routes to the big-eared trophy in Friday’s draw for the quarterfinal and semifinal stages.

After taking down Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, respectively, in the standout fixtures from the round of 16, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were again handed difficult – and delectable – matchups for the quarterfinals. The German giants will meet Manchester City, a fellow tournament favorite, in a reunion for Pep Guardiola, who previously coached the Bundesliga side. Reigning champions Real Madrid, meanwhile, take on Chelsea in a rematch of last season’s thrilling quarterfinal tilt that went to extra time.

Quarterfinal matchups

• Match 1: Real Madrid vs. Chelsea
• Match 2: Benfica vs. Inter Milan
• Match 3: Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich
• Match 4: AC Milan vs. Napoli

The clubs listed first in each matchup will play their respective first legs at home. The quarterfinal first legs are slated to take place April 11 and 12, with the decisive return fixtures scheduled for April 18 and 19.

As has become customary in recent years, UEFA also filled out the complete knockout bracket for the remaining teams, teeing up the final four. The winners of the Real Madrid-Chelsea and Manchester City-Bayern Munich ties will meet in the semifinals. To capture a record-extending 15th European Cup, Real Madrid will need to run through a gauntlet of the continent’s top teams. The same is true for Bayern, who are looking to move level with AC Milan for second place with seven titles.

With all three Serie A teams – including runaway leaders Napoli – joining Benfica on the same side of the bracket, it’s guaranteed that either an Italian or Portuguese club will be in the final this season. An Italian squad hasn’t reached the showpiece match of the competition since 2017, while Porto’s 2004 victory was the last time a club from Portugal featured in the final.

Semifinal matchups

• Winner of quarterfinal 4 vs. winner of quarterfinal 2
• Winner of quarterfinal 1 vs. winner of quarterfinal 3

The semifinal first legs will take place May 9 and 10, with the return fixtures scheduled May 16 and 17.

This season’s Champions League final will take place June 10 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.