Roberto De Zerbi said he is only just getting started as Tottenham manager as he urged the club to avoid repeating the mistakes which left them in danger of relegation until the final day of the Premier League season.
Spurs were mired in a tense relegation dogfight with West Ham when De Zerbi signed as manager on a five-year deal with just seven matches left to be played.
He could not secure Tottenham’s top-flight status until the final day of the campaign, beating Everton 1-0 to condemn the Hammers to the drop.
Speaking the next day, De Zerbi called on the club to turn over a new leaf as they look to avoid getting caught up in another relegation scrap next season.
“We have no time. We have to organise the next season, we have to begin a stronger team.
“I am very happy and very proud of every one of us. What we did was incredible, but it is finished. Now we have to move on and to prepare the future of our club.
“I came in a difficult moment and I think it made us stronger. We can become better for sure - as a coach, as players, as a club, and we cannot make the same mistakes.”
He continued, saying he expects Tottenham to come back stronger next season as he revealed his recruitment priority heading into the summer transfer window.
“I love smart people, and the smart people learn from their mistakes. If this season was like this, it is because we made many mistakes. Sincerely, from the mistakes, we have to find the reason to improve, to work harder, and to understand the mistakes. Otherwise, we can’t compete.
“We have a great relationship with (sporting directors) Johan (Lange) and Vinai (Venkatesham), and the board, they have no doubt, but it is right. I came (to) plan a new project.
“From today we have to start to work. My target when I came was today. To arrive today (with Premier League safety).
“We are lucky to have a lot of good players, a lot of good guys, but I think we have to complete the squad in the best way, with the first level of players, the right behaviour of the players.