Destiny Udogie played the full 90 minutes for Tottenham vs. Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
It has been a forgettable year for Tottenham Hotspur, who remain the only club without a Premier League win.
Spurs are without a win in 14 Premier League games and have slipped into the bottom three. They dropped to 18th last week when West Ham beat Wolves at home and stayed in that position following a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. The Lilywhites are banking on Roberto De Zerbi to turn things around quickly and keep them afloat in the Premier League. However, with just six games left, De Zerbi is running out of time.
The Italian’s reign in N17 started with a defeat at Sunderland, but he managed to take positives out of that fixture. A man with a distinct style of play, the display at the Stadium of Light didn’t totally reflect De Zerbi’s philosophy, which is quite understandable given the limited time he has had with his boys on the training field. The 46-year-old will be hoping to see a much-improved display when his old club Brighton and Hove Albion visits Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening.
Destiny Udogie reveals Roberto De Zerbi’s message to the Tottenham squad
De Zerbi took his players out for a meal at a swanky Mayfair restaurant Bacchanalia, on Wednesday night, to nurture the team bonding process. He also joked in the press conference to be ready to pay once a week for dinner if his players start winning matches regularly.
Ahead of the Brighton game, Destiny Udogie has opened up on what De Zerbi told the Tottenham squad upon his arrival. The left-back reveals the Italian tactician’s three-point agenda to get Spurs out of the mess.
“Obviously, I personally, I knew he was a really great manager, and I think since the first day he came, he brought his own style of play, and I think he has quite given us the right tools to go into the game and to show our style,” Destiny Udogie said in an interview with Sky Sports News.
“From the first day, he said it’s really important we stay positive, we help each other on the pitch, off the pitch, to build the right connection.
“And I think it’s the right way to end the season, to have six games to go and it’s really important every day we come with the right mindset, the right attitude and just stay positive as much as we can.”
Destiny Udogie must step up
Udogie has had another frustrating season riddled with injury problems. He recovered from a hamstring injury picked up against Manchester United in February and saw action on the pitch once again last month. The left-back managed to complete 90 minutes for his side in the slender defeat at Sunderland.
The Italian international must now stay fully fit and add consistency to his game. Technically sound, quick, robust and energetic, Udogie is tailor-made for De Zerbi’s system. It is now upon him to showcase his qualities with regularity and help our club stay in the top flight.