Tottenham news: Why De Zerbi at Spurs is a crazy idea — even for those who love him

Roberto De Zerbi is Tottenham's new head coach, the third of the season. Had this been announced in July 2025, at the start of the campaign, it could have been considered one of the Premier League's best appointments. Now, however, that is no longer the case.

The Italian replaces Igor Tudor, who oversaw a wretched run of five defeats in seven games, and will attempt to save the club from relegation with seven matches remaining. If Tudor had already disrupted the foundations Thomas Frank had been building at Spurs, De Zerbi represents an even more significant break.

Why defending the De Zerbi appointment is difficult

There is no denying that a manager of his calibre at a major Premier League club would be inherently exciting. De Zerbi is a "romantic" of football: he loves the ball, technical quality and aggressive territorial dominance. He has always been associated with aesthetically pleasing football.

Even so, it is difficult to defend the appointment at this stage of the season. Tottenham are just one point above the relegation zone, with seven defeats in their last ten games. Their most recent win — a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League — was rendered almost meaningless by their elimination from the competition.

More than that, the squad Tottenham have assembled does not appear close to the style De Zerbi demands. Worse still, several of the players most suited to his approach are currently injured, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus among them.

De Zerbi's mission, then, is close to impossible: applying a high-risk, build-from-the-back style — one that demands patience, heavy goalkeeper involvement and a team that deliberately invites pressure — to a side desperately fighting to stay up.

Possession, manipulation and controlled chaos: how Tottenham should play under De Zerbi

Following impressive spells at Sassuolo, Brighton and Marseille, De Zerbi has built a reputation as a manager capable of raising the collective level through complex and often risky tactical concepts.

De Zerbi's teams typically operate from a 3-2-5 structure in possession, a shape that, at first glance, resembles Pep Guardiola's, but with distinct objectives. Where Guardiola seeks to control the game through constant circulation and rational occupation of space, De Zerbi uses possession as a tool to manipulate the opposition. The aim is not simply to keep the ball, but to lure the opponent into errors.

The key concept is deliberately inviting pressure. The team plays short, seemingly risky passes in their own half, encouraging the opposition to push their lines higher. When that happens, De Zerbi's side look to break through that pressure with quick vertical or diagonal passes, exploiting the space left behind. The result is unpredictable, often brilliant football, but one that carries obvious risk.

Maximum width and aggressive box occupation

Another fundamental pillar of his approach is the use of wide players. Unlike teams that deploy more interior forwards, De Zerbi demands his wingers hug the touchline, stretching the pitch to its maximum width.

That width creates space for central penetrations and allows the team to attack with five players in the final line. The objective is simple: stretch the opposition's defence to breaking point and create numerical superiority in the channels.

Despite the heavy emphasis on possession, De Zerbi's football is not slow. On the contrary, verticality arrives at precisely the right moment, typically after luring the press.

This explains why his teams consistently produce high offensive numbers. Both Brighton and Marseille ranked among the best in metrics such as possession, chances created and expected goals during their respective domestic campaigns.

The downside, however, is clear. Having so many players committed to attacking leaves space exposed in defensive transitions. It is no coincidence that his teams have frequently ranked among those conceding the most goals from counter-attacks and direct play.

How the Spurs squad fits De Zerbi's system

Implementing this model at Tottenham will depend entirely on how well the squad adapts. Despite the difficulties, there are players who appear naturally suited to his demands. In midfield, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall fit the profile he favours, young, technically gifted, mobile and positionally intelligent.

In defence, Djed Spence could be a key piece in the transition to a back three, while Pedro Porro offers versatility with his ability to occupy interior zones. Further forward, Xavi Simons emerges as the ideal creative profile for the space between the lines, while Richarlison could benefit from the aggression demanded in the final third. Cristian Romero fits the model through his defensive intensity and ability to defend in open space.

The big unknown is the one-versus-one dribbler, an essential component in De Zerbi's system for breaking down defences. In that regard, the return of Mohammed Kudus could be decisive. The other concern is the volume of midfielders in the squad who do not fit the style: recent signings Joao Palhinha and Connor Gallagher, for example, are not the profile his approach requires.

Despite the theoretical fit, one factor could prove decisive against De Zerbi: time. His model is notoriously complex, demanding repetition, training and collective understanding.

Even at Brighton, the manager needed several weeks to embed his ideas, going without a win in his opening matches. The adaptation period at Tottenham could follow a similar path — but with a crucial difference: if results do not come quickly, the club will be relegated.

Curiously, Spurs find themselves in a situation with parallels to the early days of Ange Postecoglou. Possession football, high pressing and wide attacking play were already part of the club's recent repertoire during that period, which could ease the transition.

If he can implement his philosophy, De Zerbi could transform Tottenham into one of the most exciting and unpredictable teams in the Premier League. The risk is high — and the outcome is likely to be historic either way: a catastrophic relegation, or the turning point that redefines the club's direction for years to come.