Roberto De Zerbi is holding his press conference after Tottenham Hotspur finally got their Premier League season up and running with a 3-1 win against Coventry.
It was 536 days since James Maddison's last start for the club and he made up for lost time with a wonderful opening goal just 14 minutes in. It was the first time Spurs had taken the lead in a Premier League game this season as the 29-year-old curled home a perfect effort from outside the box from Mohammed Kudus' pass.
Coventry equalised five minutes into the second half. Poor defending from the hosts gave Jack Rudoni the space to score after a ball into the box bounced to him off Brandon Thomas-Asante. Antonin Kinsky could only pat the ball into his own net.
However, Omar Marmoush scored his first goal for Spurs on 58 minutes and it was a belter. Andy Robertson played the ball into him and the Egyptian turned and battled past his man before curling the ball into the far corner of the net.
Spurs had to make a double change on 69 minutes with both Andy Robertson and Tosin Adarabioyo, making his full debut, needing to come off for Ben Davies and Mateus Fernandes, while Maddison's shift came to an end with Conor Gallagher taking his place.
Dejan Kulusevski made his return from the bench to huge cheers 526 days on from the day the Swede suffered a complicated knee injury two seasons ago and after some nervy moments the home side wrapped up their first victory with Davies hitting a shot that Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth fumbled into his own net.
Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to De Zerbi after the game. Scroll down for his latest updates from the press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Here's every word Roberto De Zerbi said
We've got the full transcript with every single word the Spurs boss said which you can find by heading right here.
De Zerbi on the game
Yes, very happy for the result, very happy for Maddison, very happy for Deki Kulusevski. I think we played much better in other games, Old Trafford, Aston Villa especially in the first half, Everton especially in the first half, Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, but we didn't play so well, not for our responsibility. But for their credit, for the Coventry credit, because playing against one team who defend so close, so compact with low block, it's always a very, very tough game. Especially in the first half we didn't move the ball so fast, I think we have been too predictable, but I knew before the game. We played three at the back [in possession], I want to explain why, because for the injured players in the midfield position, Conor Gallagher came back two days ago, and at the beginning of the week, the medical staff told me maybe he could be not available to play. Bergvall was injured, Mateus Fernandes worked just the last two days because of his [newborn] son, and I thought three at the back was the best solution to defend the counter-attack, to have more control of the game, and for that I'm happy because we didn't concede a counter-attack. The Coventry style of play is 80 per cent counter-attack, and we didn't concede any counter-attack. We conceded one shot, we didn't create more chances or too many chances like the other games, to be honest, but I knew before the game, and I prepared the game, saying to the players this game w
More from the Spurs boss
Kudus could have finished the game but I brought on Kulusevski for the fans. We needed their support and they have suffered with us so they deserved this win.
De Zerbi on Maddison and Kulusevski being back
Different players, different talents, different personalities. With them in the dressing room there is a different atmosphere.
Frank Lampard is here first
Disappointed to lose but they will know they had a really tough game tonight.
Here are our Spurs player ratings
Here are our Spurs player ratings after that first Premier League win of the season. Some lovely moments for returning players but also more injuries. You can read them by going right here.
Welcome to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
A much needed victory for Spurs.
Follow Football London: