Roberto de Zerbi is hoping to get Tottenham back to winning ways in the Premier League in the upcoming matches
Tottenham are enduring a difficult period and are in desperate need of someone capable of bringing the best out of the players in the upcoming matches. There is a strong possibility that the Lilywhites could be relegated from the Premier League this season, with the club currently sitting in 18th place, two points adrift of safety. As a result, the North London club’s hierarchy has turned to Roberto de Zerbi in a bid to avoid further embarrassment in the coming weeks.
De Zerbi has joined Spurs on a five-year deal, making him the third-highest-paid manager in the Premier League this season. His task at N17 is straightforward: restore the players’ form and help the club avoid relegation. The Italian tactician’s first game in charge of the Lilywhites ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat against Sunderland last weekend, courtesy of a second-half strike from Nordi Mukiele.
That match served as an early reality check for De Zerbi, who will now be fully aware of the magnitude of the challenge at N17. With only six matches remaining for the North Londoners to salvage their season, fans will be hoping that the 46-year-old can make an immediate impact and guide the club to a strong finish. Spurs’ next fixture comes against De Zerbi’s former side Brighton. It is a must-win encounter for the Lilywhites, and they will need to do everything possible to secure all three points at N17.
Tottenham questioned over appointing Roberto de Zerbi
Not many Spurs fans were pleased with the club’s decision to appoint Roberto de Zerbi as Thomas Frank’s permanent successor. Following his previous remarks about Mason Greenwood, the Italian tactician faced criticism, with some supporters feeling that his views did not align with the club’s values. However, the 46-year-old has since apologised for those comments and is eager to make a fresh start at N17 as the Lilywhites fight to retain their top-flight status.
Richard Keys, however, remains unconvinced and believes Tottenham have made the wrong decision in appointing Roberto de Zerbi on a permanent basis. Writing in his blog, Keys said,
“Can someone please explain to me what De Zerbi has done in his coaching career to land the Spurs job? I wasn’t surprised to see him get it, but I just don’t know how he qualifies for it. I guess one reason would be Spurs are running out of options. They’re also running out of time. How? How on earth has it come to this?”
Richard Keys has questioned what Roberto de Zerbi has achieved in his managerial career to warrant the Spurs job midway through the season. The pundit suggested that the Lilywhites may have simply run out of viable options in the market, forcing them to appoint the former Brighton boss. He believes De Zerbi may not be the right fit and doubts whether he can rescue the situation at N17 as the North Londoners battle to avoid relegation.
Roberto de Zerbi is the right man for the job
However, it is fair to say that Richard Keys may have overlooked Roberto de Zerbi’s accomplishments. The 46-year-old played a crucial role in helping Sassuolo, a relatively modest club, compete for European qualification spots in Serie A. It was a remarkable achievement, particularly given the limited resources at his disposal. His time at Brighton followed a similar trajectory, with his side earning praise for their expressive and entertaining style of football, ultimately finishing sixth in the league.
His teams are known for playing free-flowing, attacking football that aligns closely with Spurs’ ‘to dare is to do’ philosophy. De Zerbi encourages vertical play and expects his players to express themselves, especially in challenging moments. That is precisely why the 46-year-old could prove to be an ideal fit at N17, even if the club ultimately faces relegation from the Premier League in the coming weeks.