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Twenty-nine year-old Neal Maupay worked under Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille and believes Spurs fans can be optimistic of a much better campaign in the Italian’s first full season in charge.
He told FourFourTwo: “I've got to say I've got big hopes for him and Tottenham next season. I've played for him for a season and a half, and I believe he will be a top manager in the world in a few years’ time. I'm convinced of that.
The interview with Neal was arranged by YRDS.
Neal Maupay is a fan of Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi
“The hardest part for me was to keep Tottenham in the Premier League. Now he has the time to build the squad he wants, and get the injured players back. Having a full preseason of work will be hugely important too, because he’s very detailed and it takes time to implement his ideas.
“He's very detailed, and at Marseille it took us three or four months to start to be on the same page. Then all of a sudden, everything became easier for us as players.
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“So, I think they will be a dangerous team next season. I don’t know to what extent, but I don’t see them having as tough a season as they just had.”
Maupay’s own future is up in the air at the moment after his loan spell at Sevilla came to an end, and the striker’s understanding is that the LaLiga club will not take up the option to turn this into a permanent deal.
“They [Sevilla] said they have a lot of things to fix, and Sergio Ramos was in discussions to buy the club.
“There's a lot going on behind the scenes, and I believe that they’re not planning to bring me back there or take the option [to buy].
“I’m still contracted with Marseille right now, but I don’t know what will happen. They just changed the sporting director and there is expected to be a new manager as well.
“One thing I can say is, I feel really good after my experience in Sevilla. I am in good shape, I feel confident and I'm still very, very, very hungry to play.
“And why not in England? I believe I’ve benefitted from my experience in France, and in Sevilla, and England is where I feel really at my best.
“The country, and the English culture is made for me really so, who knows?
“I would be more than happy to be back. But if I have to stay, Marseille is the biggest club in France, so we’ll see. I can't predict the future, but either way I'm hungry for more.”
As for the immediate future, the striker will have his eyes peeled on the World Cup and feels that reigning European champions Spain will be the ones to beat in North America.
“I see Spain as a really, really strong team. Maybe the best team in a tournament. I think the way that they've been playing for many years now means that everyone's on the same page.
“That's pretty hard to do with national teams, because they only get to see each other every couple of months and for just a few days. So it's not easy to build a chemistry, but they have that.
“The France squad is stacked. When you look at the names on paper, I would love us to win again. Big, big hugs go to [Kylian] Mbappe for the season he’s had at Real Madrid. It's been difficult for him, and he hasn't won any trophies. With that in mind, I think he’ll be very hungry to bring back another World Cup.
“And then there is England. Every World Cup and international tournament, you wonder if it’s coming home or not. I guess we have to see. There have been some strong players that have been left home.
“I think [Thomas] Tuchel is a good manager, and they will be a strong team as well.”