Tottenham have confirmed the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as Thomas Frank’s permanent successor.
Tottenham are going through significant backroom changes as the club prepares for a relegation dogfight during the final stretch of the season. The Lilywhites have finally appointed a permanent successor to Thomas Frank, with Roberto De Zerbi arriving on a five-year deal earlier this week. The Italian tactician has instantly become the third-highest-paid manager in the Premier League, behind Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
It is important that De Zerbi understands the gravity of the situation at N17 as he looks to steady the ship at Hotspur Way. He is immediately tasked with helping the North Londoners avoid relegation from the Premier League this season. With only seven matches remaining, it is crucial that the former Brighton boss knows how to get the best out of his players as the campaign enters its decisive phase.
Not many fans would argue with the club’s decision to part ways with Igor Tudor earlier last week. The Croat had run out of ideas to guide the club out of the difficult situation it found itself in. It had become clear that the 47-year-old was not the right man for the job at N17, given that he managed to win only one of the eight matches during his 44-day stint in charge of the Lilywhites.
Have Tottenham made the right call by appointing Roberto De Zerbi?
Tottenham fans have remained sceptical of the club’s decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi, largely due to his previous comments defending Olympique Marseille star Mason Greenwood. Supporters believe that the Italian tactician does not align with the club’s values. However, it is important to note that De Zerbi has since apologised for his remarks and reiterated his commitment to upholding the right moral standards.
David Bentley now believes that Spurs have made the right call by appointing Roberto De Zerbi on a long-term deal. Speaking on Sky Sports (via X), Bentley said,
“I think he’s a strong character. He’s done well when he was at Shakhtar and I think he won the league there. He’s been at Marseille and it’s a difficult club to manage with the hostility of the fans. He’s got good credentials and he did well at Brighton. But managing Tottenham is a difficult job. Big football club and one of the biggest jobs that he’s got. But he’s saying all the right things and he’s a good character.”
The former Spurs star added,
“Hopefully he can come in and inspire this group of players that have not been performing and conceding too many easy chances. Hopefully he can stop the goals going in. I think he’s got to come in and sure up the team, stop conceding goals and use it as a springboard to stay up.”
As David Bentley points out, Roberto De Zerbi appears to be a strong character and has said many of the right things required to manage a club of Tottenham’s stature. However, the former player wants the Italian tactician to shore up the squad and help the players return to their best in the coming weeks if the Lilywhites are to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season. The only way to achieve that is by playing to each player’s strengths and tightening the defence to limit the number of chances conceded.
There are still nine more days before Spurs take on Sunderland in the Premier League. That gives De Zerbi valuable time to implement his footballing philosophy on the training ground and allow the players to adapt to his demands. With the Lilywhites travelling to the Stadium of Light for a crucial fixture, it is vital that they are at their best, as they need a positive result to avoid slipping into the relegation zone.