Roberto De Zerbi shares exactly what he expects from players like Conor Gallagher and Xavi Simons.
Roberto De Zerbi has outlined exactly how he intends to get the best out of Conor Gallagher and Xavi Simons, with the new Tottenham head coach identifying both the tactical and psychological dimensions that he believes have prevented the club’s £86 million duo from fulfilling their potential this season.
Simons, who joined from RB Leipzig for £51 million last summer, has created more chances than any other Tottenham player this season, yet has struggled for consistent starts and has never been afforded the sustained run of games in his preferred position that his talent demands. De Zerbi has already identified him as a big talent and made clear that getting him into the right position on the pitch is the starting point for unlocking what the 22-year-old is genuinely capable of.
Gallagher’s situation is more nuanced and, in De Zerbi’s assessment, more psychologically complex. The England international arrived from Atletico Madrid in January for £35 million, having turned down Aston Villa, but has made almost no impact since his move. Crucially, De Zerbi tried to sign Gallagher during his time at Brighton, meaning he has a specific and detailed idea of what the player looks like at his best. His target is straightforward.
De Zerbi said (h/t Football London):
“I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea at the time. He was a leader in Chelsea, and now he has to adapt to a new club, to new teammates, to a new stadium, to a new everything. I have to help him to put as a target the Gallagher in Chelsea.”
Gallagher needs to reinvent himself
The observation cuts to the heart of Gallagher’s struggles since leaving Stamford Bridge. A player who thrived on familiarity, responsibility, and the comfort of a long-established environment has been asked to reinvent himself twice in quick succession, first at Atletico and now at Spurs in the middle of a relegation crisis.
De Zerbi’s broader philosophy for the squad was equally revealing. He concluded:
“The DNA of these players, of this club, is to keep the ball and to try the conditions to score, not to be worried about conceding because we need to win the game.”
With Tottenham in the bottom three and seven games remaining, that attacking conviction may be exactly the mindset shift this squad has been missing all season.