Tottenham defender Eric Dier has disagreed with Jose Mourinho's claim that he was suffering a crisis of confidence.
Mourinho mentioned Dier as one of his players that feels "more than anyone else, these little moments of confidence, of crisis".
The Portuguese coach made the comments after Spurs' 2-0 win over West Brom earlier this month, a match that Dier sat out as an unused substitute.
The England international has returned to the starting line-up in four of Spurs' five games since and Dier rejects the suggestion his confidence was low.
"Confidence-wise, I don't feel like I've been in a bad place all season," Dier said.
"I've gone through periods where I've had low confidence in the past so I know what it feels like and I haven't felt that this season.
"The most important thing is the reality and people's perception versus reality can be different sometimes.
"We've gone through a difficult moment but it's important to keep things in context.
"I feel like I've been happy with my level for the majority of the season.
"There's been a dip in it, which correlates with the dip with the team in general and our performances in general.
"I don't think my confidence has ever been in a negative place where it's been in previous times."
The 27-year-old admits the North Londoners' form has been below-par, with Spurs slipping to five losses in their past six league games.
That slump has resulted in Mourinho's team falling to ninth in the Premier League table, but Dier insists it is not for the want of trying.
"I'm a big boy, this is a ruthless profession and I focus on trying to do the best that I can every time I get an opportunity," he added.
"I always try to be the best version of myself, every day in training I try to improve constantly.
"I know I can have good games and bad games but I'm always relaxed because I know that I give everything I do have.
"Everything on the outside doesn't affect me so much because I'm confident in myself and I'm confident that I always try to give the best of myself.
"Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it goes badly but my effort never changes."
Icing on the cake – Al Nassr celebrate Ronaldo's record-setting Portugal cap
Al Nassr celebrated Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking Portugal appearance in style.
Given his impeccable commitment to athleticism, Ronaldo might not have dug into the cake he was presented with on Friday.
Al Nassr were celebrating the 38-year-old becoming the most-capped men's player of all time.
Ronaldo made his 197th appearance for Portugal on March 23, scoring twice in a 4-0 defeat of Liechtenstein.
Along with marking that achievement, Al Nassr also celebrated Abdulrahman Ghareeb's 25th birthday.
"Today, we celebrate a record and birthday," the club tweeted. "The record of most capped player in international football [and] the birthday of a talented Saudi player."
Stellini insists Spurs not in crisis despite Conte exit
Cristian Stellini insists Tottenham are "not in crisis" despite Antonio Conte's acrimonious exit from the club.
Conte left Spurs by mutual consent last Sunday, a week on from a remarkable outburst after a 3-3 draw with bottom side Southampton in which his side squandered a two-goal lead late on.
The former Chelsea boss labelled his players "selfish" and questioned the club's lack of silverware during Daniel Levy's time as chairman in a tirade that ultimately cost him his job, with assistant Stellini taking charge until the end of the season.
Conte becomes the third Spurs manager to be relieved of their duties since Mauricio Pochettino, who led Spurs to the Champions League final, was sacked in 2019, while the club's wait for a first trophy since 2008 has extended to 15 years.
Managing director Fabio Paratici has also stepped back from his role while the club awaits the outcome of his appeal against a worldwide ban from football following FIFA's decision to extend his initial 30-month ban from just Italian football to a worldwide basis for financial breaches while at Juventus.
Yet Stellini, who is now tasked with overseeing the final 10 games of the season as Spurs bid to achieve Champions League qualification, does not agree the club is in turmoil, despite the Tottenham Supporters' Trust describing it as "one mess after another."
"When you take decisions for the best you are not in crisis," Stellini told reporters.
"If you have some matters, we have to stay compact and we have to stick together to move on and play the matches."
It was an easy decision for Stellini to assume Conte's position until the end of the campaign, with the 48-year-old saying: "I spoke with Antonio. The club and Antonio spoke to each other. They take the decision together and they let me know, I was aware of it.
"They call me and say the decision is taken and if you agree with us, you can do it. I had no problem to say yes."
Tottenham managing director Paratici steps back from role
Tottenham managing director Fabio Paratici has stepped back from his role while the club awaits the outcome of his appeal against a worldwide ban from football.
FIFA announced on Wednesday that the 30-month suspension handed to Paratici by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in January would extend beyond Italian football.
Spurs were caught cold by the timing of the announcement and said in a statement they were "urgently seeking further clarification from FIFA" regarding Paratici's situation.
The 50-year-old's appeal will be held on April 19, but it was confirmed by Tottenham on Friday that he will step back from his duties until then.
"In view of FIFA's decision, Fabio has agreed with the club that he will take an immediate leave of absence pending the outcome of his appeal," a Spurs statement read.
Paratici was one of 11 individuals banned by the FIGC in January after Juventus were found guilty of alleged breaches in relation to historical transfer dealings.
Juve were docked 15 points in Serie A as part of the punishment, with Paratici and the club denying any wrongdoing and lodging an appeal to the Italian Olympic Committee.
Then-chairman Andrea Agnelli and former director Pavel Nedved were hit with 24 and eight month bans respectively, which they are also appealing in April.
Paratici's leave of absence comes at a time when the club are on the lookout for a new head coach following the sacking of Antonio Conte last week.
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