Ramon Vega says Tottenham’s under-achieving players must take more responsibility after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked as head coach on Monday.

Nuno’s four-month tenure ended following the 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, with Antonio Conte a strong favourite to replace the former Wolves boss.

Tottenham did not register a shot on target in an abject display against United and Nuno departed with the London club eighth in the table, with five wins and as many defeats from his 10 Premier League games in charge.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Spurs defender Vega made clear his feelings that players have not been showing the right attitude, while also questioning why the club did not try harder to bring Conte in before appointing Nuno.

"The players here have to take responsibility with the way they are playing," Vega said.

"I'm a little bit unhappy with how the players are really showing their attitude and willingness to play for the club.

"It's irrelevant if it's Nuno or any other manager there. You're playing for the club, you get paid by the club and you need to show some commitment and that's not what I've seen from these players so far.

"My understanding at the moment is that Antonio Conte is the frontrunner to be appointed. But my question is why was he not given what he wanted in the summer instead of wasting time and potentially [damaging the] reputation of a very good manager, because Nuno is a very good manager but he did not have the time or the chance to really improve the team.

"So, why suddenly now does Conte have the facilities that Tottenham can give him and not in the summer?"

Nuno’s 10 Premier League games at the helm is the lowest tally of any permanent Tottenham manager, one fewer than Jacques Santini's 11 in 2004.

Nuno Espírito Santo

Vega also pointed to the transfer saga surrounding Harry Kane, who was strongly linked with a move to Manchester City, suggesting that it has played a role in Tottenham's stuttering start to the season.

"The Harry Kane scenario, this is exactly the reason why we are here now today," the former Switzerland international added.

"There's no doubt the dressing room went apart and there was unhappiness and I think that when the players don't click together or are not playing as a team you will see that on the pitch.

"From my point of view the Kane saga was a disaster for the club. But there is a responsibility as a player - how he actually acted at that time he didn't act professionally. At the same time you have to play him now, there's not even a question mark."