The new Tottenham boss is speaking to the media following his first Premier League game for the club in the defeat at Sunderland on Sunday afternoon
Roberto De Zerbi is holding his press conference after his debut defeat in the dugout for Tottenham with their 1-0 loss at Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday.
Spurs thought they had a penalty 20 minutes into the contest when the bright Randal Kolo Muani went down in the box through a combination of challenges from Omar Alderete and Luke O'Nien. Referee Rob Jones pointed to the spot bit was called over to his monitor by the VAR officials and ruled it out.
Both teams had chances in the first half with Brian Brobbey and Dominic Solanke denied by close range saves at different ends of the pitch.
Sunderland took the lead in the 61st minute after Nordi Mukiele drifted inside from the right and hits a shot that deflected heavily off Micky van de Ven and sailed into the net with Kinsky wrong-footed.
Spurs then lost their captain Cristian Romero after the centre-back was pushed into Kinsky by Brobbey. The skipper left the pitch in tears perhaps fearing for his involvement in Tottenham's relegation battle and the World Cup this summer. The visitors could not find a way back into the game despite 12 minutes of added time after the treatment required by Romero and Kinsky.
Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to De Zerbi after the club's long winless league run reached 105 days. Scroll down for his latest updates from the press conference at the Stadium of Light.
De Zerbi's thoughts on the match
I think we played a good game, especially in the first half, with order, with the ball, without the ball. We had three clear chances to score, one with Solanke, one with Richarlison, another with Bergvall. We played well, but we didn't play well enough to win the game, because in the second half we suffered too much. To Sunderland we lost 20-30 metres of the pitch. We had another important chance with Richarlison, just two minutes before conceding a goal. We can play better, we can do something more, as energy, as passion on the pitch, with more enthusiasm. Yes, but now we are in a difficult moment and I would like to help the players to show what they can do on the pitch. Because we played a good game, but we can play much better than today. Just it. My job is not now to change the style of play. I did two or three things with the ball, two or three things without the ball, but the crucial part is not with the ball or without the ball. It's in our mentality to be positive, but to be positive just because we have the quality enough to win a game and when we go to win a game, we can change everything.
Why did he bring on Xavi so late?
Because I changed three players, then after Romero's injury there was on the pitch Kolo Muani and Udogie. I didn't know when Udogie could finish, the energy to play, just for it. Without Romero's injury, Xavi would have come on before.
On Romero
We don't know yet. We have to see the next days. I hope for us it's not important a problem because he's a crucial player for us. A good guy, top player, big personality and we need him to finish the season and to achieve our goal.Was it his knee? Maybe yes but I don’t want to say nothing until we know more.
De Zerbi is here
First of all the players of Tottenham are all good guys and they are suffering for this moment. They are not happy when we lose the game and they are not happy to see Tottenham at the bottom of the table. But we have to find the right energy, the right spirit. When they stay with me during the week, they will find a positive coach because I believe in them. They are human and maybe they are suffering too much. We have to stay altogether and close and improve in the details of the football, but to better as a mentality.
Meanwhile Roberto De Zerbi has spoken to the BBC
"Sorry because we didn't deserve to lose the game. We played a good game, maybe not enough to win but we were unlucky in a few situations in the first half.
"I cannot say anything to players because they gave their best in terms of attitude and spirit. We can play better for sure and you can feel better. We have to work on that. My work is not so much on the pitch because they are good guys and I am sorry for them. I want to give them confidence in what they need.
"Tactically, we played a good first half. With the ball and without the ball. We don't have confidence to play great football but we did what we have been working on this week. The players can play better if they are feeling confident."
On keeping spirits high: "I can be a big brother, father, they don't need a coach. They don't need to improve football. They can play better and they will play better once we reach a different level of confidence."
On looking forward to the challenge: "Absolutely, I'm sure if we are able to win a game then everything will change."
Regis Le Bris is here first
It's important [to have control]. We broke their press early. It was always adaptive but I think the knowledge of the team is getting better now and they can find the solution. Still can be more efficient and clinical but we were confident.
Here are our Spurs player ratings
You can find our Tottenham player ratings after that debut defeat for De Zerbi by heading right here.
Welcome to the Stadium of Light
Tottenham's winless Premier League run stretches to 105 days. Roberto De Zerbi will be with us shortly to explain what he saw and did.
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