It is matchday 32 in the Premier League and Tottenham take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon in Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge, as they look to avoid relegation to the Championship.
**De Zerbi**was announced as Tottenham boss on a five-year-deal following Igor Tudor's departure last month and shared how he has found his first week in the Spurs hotseat has played out.
He said: "I'm proud and happy to be here. I have to say thanks to Vinai and Johan, because they showed me a big, big confidence. Now, I have to work. Now, we have to make points. I'm sure about the level of the players, because many players in the past, I was very, very close to bring them in my former teams.
*"They are working very well. I think I'm not better than **Thomas Frank*or Igor Tudor because I consider them very good coaches. I try to bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my passion to help the players.
"First of all, to show their qualities, because they have a lot of qualities and then to achieve our target, because the most important part now is our target.β
Spurs' haven't won in their last thirteen attempts in the Premier League, a run going back to their last fixture of 2025, as they came away 1-0 winners at Crystal Palace, thanks to a Archie Gray header from close range, but is Brescia-born De Zerbi confident he has the players to help avoid the drop?
He said: "Yes, I knew before working with them, I understood that they are good guys. The fans have to be happy because all players are good guys. They are suffering for this difficult situation.
"I want to see on the game, because during the week it's easier, but I think the voice inside of the pitch has changed. I observed them at the beginning of my time last week and now I'm more positive, for sure."
He added: *βIn the last period, I watched a lot of games, especially of Tottenham. Yes, one thing is to watch the game at home, and a different thing is to work with them on the pitch. We have very big players, young players, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, and Xavi Simons.*
*"We have older players who are very important. Micky Van de Ven is a crucial player for me, like Cristian Romero, like Pedro Porro, like Dominic Solanke.*
*"I want to see again the same Connor Gallagher I loved at Chelsea. I think I'm lucky because I have big confidence in my players, in their qualities. My target is to help them to play well, to enjoy with the ball, because their characteristics are very clear to me.β*
Last time the two sides met was back in January when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as an 80th minute Brian Brobbey strike cancelled out Ben Davies' opener on the half an hour mark.
Can Roberto De Zerbi make immediate impact and give Spurs a precious three points or will the Black Cats pile more misery in 2026 and leave Tottenham fans thinking the unthinkable?