Roberto De Zerbi had zero room for error after taking the plunge at Tottenham Hotspur. Fortunately for the club, he hasn’t put a foot wrong in their relegation fight.
Spurs have now picked up seven points from their last three matches, including their crucial first and second Premier League victories of 2026, and they were able to take their performance levels up another notch during their 2-1 win against Aston Villa last time out.
Capitalising on a surprisingly flat atmosphere at Villa Park, De Zerbi’s side were everything they hadn’t been this season: calm, controlled and perfectly drilled tactically. It is a testament to the Italian’s methods that Spurs were finally able to climb out of the drop zone.
He had had his fair share of doubters. Historically, he has required several weeks to stamp his authority and style on new teams. Lewis Dunk, his former Brighton captain, described his opening sessions at the Amex as a “carnage fortnight”.
At Spurs, he did not have the luxury of time.
There are clear improvements across the board heading into Monday’s showdown against Leeds United, and another win would move them agonisingly close to sealing their safety.
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Roberto De Zerbi working miracles at Tottenham
Before he replaced Igor Tudor in the dugout, Spurs were conceding an alarmingly high average of 4.35 shots on target per match, placing them 15th in the Premier League for that particular metric. Under De Zerbi, however, that figure has already dropped to just 2.0.
They now sit top of the table in that area, showcasing their staggering turnaround.
The uplifts don’t stop there. Spurs previously averaged 7.8 interceptions per game and were 16th in comparison to their top-flight peers. Now, that number has shot up to 11, again putting them first. Possession won in the attacking third is also up from 3.7 to 5.3.
The fact that Tottenham are first in several of these crucial metrics proves just how much De Zerbi has been able to steer this listing ship around. All of a sudden, they are better organised, both on and off the ball, and his players bought into his project immediately.
But this front-foot blueprint is, in fact, having a rather surprising effect. Despite winning the ball back closer to the opponent’s penalty area, they only have one goal to show for it under De Zerbi – Xavi Simon’s strike from distance in the 2-2 home draw with Brighton.
The data actually shows Spurs aren’t necessarily creating a better xG or having more shots than their dismal run of form before the 46-year-old. Where the improvements have been evident is at the back. Spurs are shipping fewer goals and dealing with danger better.
Before De Zerbi’s appointment, Tottenham were conceding an average of 1.52 xG per match. Now, that has fallen drastically by almost 50 per cent to 0.79 xG. Their average goal difference per match has also ticked from negative to positive for the first time this term.
Curiously, despite Spurs’ players now looking leaner and meaner, they are running less. Indeed, sprints are down approximately 10 per cent under De Zerbi. They are instead wiser in the press, enacting triggers to perfection and moving up the pitch in fluid, compact blocks.
This much was evident against Aston Villa. Spurs were beautifully coordinated and acted, for the first time in a very long while, like a cohesive unit moving in the right direction.
Much of this improvement can be traced back to De Zerbi’s midfield reshuffle. Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha were given the nod at Villa Park and combined effectively, allowing the former to score his first goal since his £35million switch.
Right from his very first day in the hot seat, he also set about lifting the confidence of his players. They are already willing to walk through fire for him, while a series of crippling injuries to crucial players have also bound them closer together.
It is clear, then, that Tottenham are destined for success under De Zerbi.
Leeds the real test
However, to play devil’s advocate, there are a couple of caveats that suggest Spurs are almost certainly not quite home and hosed. Two of De Zerbi’s four matches since his appointment have come against basement club Wolves and a heavily-rotated Aston Villa.
It cannot be denied that Villa had put their full focus on their Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, and so simply didn’t turn up against Spurs. The visitors established a rapid foothold and were able to dominate large swathes.
On Monday, they will welcome a rejuvenated Leeds United, who are certainly safe from relegation. It will be a stern test of Spurs’ character and their credentials under De Zerbi. If they are to take another stride closer to safety, they will really need all three points.
Only then will they be able to breathe a little easier.
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