The Tottenham Hotspur head coach has been speaking about trying to save the north London club from the prospect of Premier League relegation
Roberto De Zerbi admits he has had to compromise his style at Tottenham for now and has given an update on midfielder Pape Matar Sarr.
The former Marseille boss has been parachuted in to try to save Spurs from the drop in the Premier League and results have begun to turn under the 46-year-old. The north London side drew with in-form Brighton before grabbing their first league win of 2026 with the 1-0 victory at relegated Wolves last Saturday.
Tottenham are yet to play in the high-octane, attacking De Zerbi way seen in his days at Brighton and as well as injuries not helping that process, the new head coach admitted he has had to shelve too much change at this point.
"Of course. The compromise is we can’t work too much, we can't give them too much information, too many instructions, because at the beginning when you have too many instructions you lose the speed," he explained. "But I think they are smart and they can understand quickly and they need instructions, they need a fixed plan, a clear plan.
"In the first-half at Wolves, I think we played well. Not shooting too many times, not creating too many chances to score, not with the right speed, but in terms of order, occupation of the spaces, the line pass … maybe some mistakes in the decisions because too many times we went outside and we have to change the habits – sometimes we go outside, sometimes we keep the ball inside.
"Because keeping the ball inside, we can attack in the right side, in the left side, straight, and if we go outside you have just two parts – the right side and the centre, it’s difficult to go on the other side. Keeping the ball inside permits you to reach the winger and to go one-to-one and there is a lot of work to do, but now we have no time."
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De Zerbi will be without the injured Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke among eight unavailable players for the trip to Aston Villa on Sunday but he has Destiny Udogie back in contention and he gave a positive update on Pape Matar Sarr, who has missed recent weeks with a shoulder problem.
"Today was the first day with the group but he worked very well. He’s available, yes. I have not decided yet the starting XI," said the Italian.
Spurs now start a run of playing after their main relegation rivals West Ham, who sit two points above them in 17th. De Zerbi is not concerned about kick-off times though as the Hammers make the short trip to face Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
"We think about Villa and then we go to speak about the other three games. I don’t know, if we win, yes, not now, we can’t think if we play before or after. It can be negative or it can be positive to give some more energy," he said before explaining how he has been lifting the players' spirits.
"With my eyes I can reach the head of the players. Nothing different. I can't change my face or myself depending on who is in front of me. Clear, honest and what I feel I say."
De Zerbi was asked whether Tottenham can still win five matches in a row under him with all of their injuries.
"Yes, it’s possible because we have good players. You are not convinced?" he asked of the reporter.
When the answer came back that the journalist had seen a lot of Spurs matches this season, the Italian slumped forward over the desk.
"And so we stay like this, ‘urrrrgh,’ no? What do we have to do?" he asked. "Explain to me, help me. You have friends in my dressing room? I hope not!"