The former Seagulls boss takes charge of Spurs on a matchday for the first time when they visit Sunderland on Sunday.
His home debut will be against Albion a week on Saturday.
De Zerbi was very popular with Seagulls fans but his future at the club and his working relationship with chairman Tony Bloom were coming into question for months before they actually parted company.
He has played down a reputation for not staying in jobs for the longer term and alluded to his departure from Albion.
De Zerbi told a press conference: “I stayed three years in Sassuolo and then I left from Ukraine when the war started.
“In Brighton I left for different problems and in Marseille maybe the same.
“I would like to stay four or five (years), for a long time. I don't know how many years but in Marseille like this because in Marseille my idea was to stay for a long time.”
Speaking further about why he has moved on in the past, he said: “Then you have to speak with the club and when you have a different view of football or other things you have to leave money and you have to leave.
“But in my plan for sure there is the idea to stay for a long time, to try to put Tottenham, I'm not speaking about the titles because it's not the right moment now, but to put Tottenham to stay in the first position in the Premier League because there are all parts to reach that level.”
De Zerbi has so far brought in only two members of his usual coaching staff.
They do not include Andrea Maldera or Enrico Venturelli, although the latter appears to have been spotted on the training pitch.
De Zerbi said: “It's totally different this situation because we have no time to work like in Brighton or Marseille or in other places I've been and I don't want to put confusion inside of the players.
“They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction, not too much thinking.”
De Zerbi also made it pretty clear his full gameplan will not be in place by the time Albion go to North London.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is already a doubt for that game while Mohamed Kudus has been ruled out for the season.