Roberto de Zerbi is keen to make his mark at Tottenham during his five-year stay at N17
A change of manager… again. That has been the story of the season for Tottenham as they continue their fight for Premier League survival. The Lilywhites have now entered the relegation zone for the first time this campaign, following West Ham’s convincing victory against Wolves on Friday night. The onus now falls on Roberto de Zerbi to help the North Londoners return to winning ways in the coming weeks, starting with the game against Sunderland on Sunday.
Spurs fans are tired of seeing the club change managers so frequently. De Zerbi is the fourth manager to take charge of the club since the Lilywhites won the Europa League ten months ago. It becomes increasingly difficult for players to adapt to a consistent playing style if the club continues to change managers regularly. The supporters are now hoping that the Italian tactician remains at N17 for the long term and helps the team maintain their top-flight status this season.
The good news is that Roberto de Zerbi is already familiar with the Premier League, thanks to his managerial stint at Brighton. He did a phenomenal job at the AMEX Stadium, helping the Seagulls secure European football during his time on the south coast of England. The Italian tactician will now hope to replicate a similar impact at N17 and help Spurs compete at the top end of the table once he ensures their survival this season.
Roberto De Zerbi expecting his Tottenham side to entertain the masses
Tottenham’s DNA dictates that the club should play free-flowing, attacking football at all times. Ange Postecoglou embodied this philosophy well and ensured that his side entertained the fans during his tenure. Now, the same is expected from Roberto de Zerbi as he prepares to take charge of the Lilywhites for the first time this weekend. Although the team is currently in a relegation dogfight, the Italian tactician is still expected to set his side up to play on the front foot as the season approaches its business end.
The 46-year-old has revealed that he wants his team to play with courage and align with the club’s attacking DNA. Speaking in his pre-match presser (via Tottenham Hotspur), De Zerbi said,
“My style is one part about the style of play and one part about the character, the personality. I have no time enough to work in the principle or in build-up so much or in the last 20 metres. I want to give organisation with the ball and without the ball. Two, three principles without the ball, two, three principles, four more, something more in ball possession in offensive space – and that’s it.”
The Spurs boss added,
“What I want to do, what I want to achieve immediately is the character, is the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack, because the DNA of this club, of this squad, is to find the goal, to score. In this part, I can be able to transfer not in too much time my principle.”
Roberto de Zerbi believes that his team must show courage and the character to play on the front foot. The Italian tactician admits that he does not have enough time to extensively work on build-up play, both with and without the ball, but he wants his side to demonstrate the right spirit to play attacking football. The 46-year-old is determined to embody the club’s DNA of playing on the front foot, which can only be achieved by allowing players the freedom to express themselves with personality.
All eyes will now be on the club’s crucial clash against Sunderland on Sunday. It is important that De Zerbi selects a strong team capable of beating the Black Cats on their own turf. With only seven matches remaining this season, the players must rise to the occasion and secure all three points. Failure to win would mean that the North Londoners end the weekend in the relegation zone, placing further pressure on De Zerbi to turn the club’s fortunes around in the coming weeks.