Roberto de Zerbi will be hoping to get off to a flying start for Tottenham when they face Sunderland this weekend.
Tottenham are in dire straits as they face the real possibility of relegation from the Premier League this season. The Lilywhites have struggled to produce positive results in recent months, which led to the departures of both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor after they failed to revive the club’s fortunes. The responsibility now falls on Roberto De Zerbi to succeed where his predecessors could not and keep Spurs in the top flight.
Spurs remain the only team in the division yet to win a league game since the turn of the year. They are currently on a 13-match winless run, raising serious doubts among fans about whether the squad has what it takes to turn things around. It has now been more than 100 days since their last Premier League victory, which came against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in December.
Roberto De Zerbi must now focus on restoring confidence within the squad as they search for their first win in over three months. His primary objective is to help the Lilywhites avoid relegation. That task can only be achieved if Spurs return to winning ways immediately, starting with their upcoming clash against Sunderland on Sunday.
Tottenham predicted to suffer more distress against Sunderland
De Zerbi will be hoping for a strong start as Tottenham prepare to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Italian tactician needs to get his approach right, while the players must show commitment and fight for the badge. Anything less than three points could further damage Spurs’ survival hopes and deepen the crisis at N17.
However, Chris Sutton has predicted a difficult outing for Spurs this weekend. Speaking on BBC, Sutton said,
“The whole situation is just odd, with De Zerbi securing a five-year contract despite only hanging around for more than two years at one of his previous eight clubs. Good luck to him, but this is a difficult place for him to start. Sunderland’s form at the Stadium of Light has dipped a bit since they lost their unbeaten home record against Liverpool in February, but the Black Cats will be buoyant after beating Newcastle last time out.”
The pundit added,
“If Spurs are going to play the type of football we associate with De Zerbi, they will be open and expansive, and take risks – but will they have the confidence to do that? Sunderland are the team that come into this game with belief. They’ve had a brilliant season and their incentive now must be to stay above Newcastle in the table. 1-0 Sunderland.”
Chris Sutton believes that travelling to Sunderland is far from an ideal start for Roberto De Zerbi. The Black Cats have been strong at home this season and will be full of confidence following their recent win over rivals Newcastle United. Sutton also pointed out that if Spurs stick to De Zerbi’s expansive style, they could leave themselves exposed defensively, potentially playing into Sunderland’s hands.
Tottenham fans will be hoping that the players rise to the occasion and secure a crucial victory against a confident Sunderland side. The Stadium of Light is known for its intense atmosphere, making it a challenging venue for any team. Spurs must deliver a disciplined and determined performance if they are to rediscover form and keep their survival hopes alive. Whether they can finally turn things around remains to be seen.