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Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi continues to divide opinion, but Jay Bothroyd believes the club may have made the right call.

There has been a lot of talk about Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi on a long-term deal, as they turn to the Italian to help them beat the drop this season.

A few pundits think Spurs would have been better served going for a more pragmatic manager with a less expansive style of play, given the dire situation the north London club finds itself in.

Meanwhile, three Tottenham supporter groups believe the controversy surrounding De Zerbi is not doing the club’s public image any good, following his backing of Mason Greenwood.

Greenwood moved to Marseille after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault, only for the charges to be dropped later due to the withdrawal of key witnesses.

Regardless of controversy, Spurs opted for the Italian, and Johan Lange, speaking about De Zerbi’s appointment, stated that the former Brighton manager was Tottenham’s first choice – one they are happy to have secured.

Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi backed by Jay Bothroyd

Jay Bothroyd has now offered his take on Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment, explaining his belief that the Italian can bring stability and success to Tottenham, not only short-term, but long-term.

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He believes that in the near future, De Zerbi could deliver European football to north London.

He told Sky Sport, “They need stability. I think regardless of where Tottenham is in the league, I think De Zerbi is a very, very good manager that will do very well at Tottenham.

“I really like him. I like the way he carries himself. I like the fact he is a bit… he can be a bit outrageous. He might say things, but I like characters.

“They are the kind of people I gravitate to. They are the kind of players I gravitate to. I think he will stay, he has got a five-year deal, but obviously they have had that conversation where it is like if we go down, he is not going to just want to pick up and leave, but ultimately I think that those players that are at Tottenham Football Club are good enough to stay in the Premier League and, with him as manager, I would not be surprised if they finished in the European spots next year.”

Spurs squad future addressed amid relegation concerns

While there is a feeling that many Tottenham players will jump ship should the club go to the Championship, Bothroyd holds a different view.

The former Premier League striker believes that Spurs will only sell players if their valuation is met, adding that a few Tottenham stars are likely to struggle to secure moves away from north London.

He continued: “I always hear from fans saying there is going to be… everyone is going to leave. It is not like that because obviously Tottenham have a valuation of a player. If that valuation is not met or if Tottenham does not let them leave, then they cannot leave.

“I mean, for example, James Maddison – who is going to buy James Maddison, who has been injured all year? It is not going to happen. Dominic Solanke might, Cristian Romero might, Micky van de Ven, yes, but beyond that, where are you looking to say they are definitely going to go?

“They are definitely going to move on because, again, to someone on £150,000-£200,000 a week, there are not many clubs that will do that, and some of these players are on big money, so it is not easy to just say everyone is going to leave.”

Former Roberto De Zerbi star Neal Maupay has now revealed what Tottenham Hotspur fans can expect under their new manager.

Tottenham Hotspur finally landed their number one managerial target, Roberto De Zerbi, who is now expected to get to work with the group of Spurs players who did not receive an international call-up and are at Hotspur Way.

The next competitive game for Spurs is set for April 12, less than two weeks from now, given their absence from the FA Cup, and that should provide De Zerbi with some time with this group of players.

The focus for the Italian is to keep Tottenham in the Premier League, even though it is understood that De Zerbi aims to stick with Spurs should they get relegated to the Championship.

Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi start assessed by Neal Maupay

Statistics show that the former Brighton manager often has slow starts at clubs he has managed.

His first seven games with the Seagulls saw him pick up eight points, without managing a single win in his first five matches.

Such a return for Tottenham in their final seven games in the Premier League could still see them earn a Premier League spot next season.

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Some fans may remember Neal Maupay’s long-running beef with James Maddison last year, but the former Brighton man has been more positive about Tottenham this week.

Maupay has now opened up on what Spurs fans can expect from De Zerbi, outlining his tactical approach and warning that his ideas will take time, speaking to Sky Sports.

He said: “I know him pretty well now and I think he is a fantastic signing for Tottenham. He loves football, he is very, very into tactics and all he has got in his life is football really. He lives football, he breathes football, and I think that can be really good.

“The only thing for me is the seven or eight games to go, and what he wants to do takes time for the players to get used to it, so that will be interesting I guess, but if they can stay up, for me it is a fantastic signing for Tottenham.”

Spurs backing grows but concerns remain over De Zerbi style

Maupay is not the only one to be full of praise for De Zerbi, with Jay Bothroyd of the opinion that the former Brighton man could deliver European football to Tottenham as early as next year.

Tim Sherwood has also been full of praise for De Zerbi, stating that he prefers him over Mauricio Pochettino, although he has his reservations over his expansive style of play.

De Zerbi now has to prove himself in what is a full-on relegation scrap over the next two months, with Spurs just one point above the bottom three.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will love what one of their old favourite players has said about working with Roberto De Zerbi.

Many have expressed doubts over whether De Zerbi is the right man to take charge of a relegation battle at Tottenham, given the Italian’s focus on attacking football and his reputation for being temperamental.

Not all Spurs fans are happy with De Zerbi’s appointment, with the Italian’s controversial past comments about Mason Greenwood raising concerns.

However, the supporters will take heart from what one of their former heroes has said in the past about working with the 46-year-old.

Tottenham fan favourite Sandro loved working with Roberto De Zerbi

Former Spurs midfielder Sandro, who is loved by the White Hart Lane faithful for his passion for the club, has opened up on his own experience of working with the new Tottenham head coach.

The Brazilian spent a year on loan at Benevento back in 2018 when De Zerbi was in charge of the Italian club, and the 37-year-old confessed that there is no coach he loved working with more across his career.

When asked who was the best coach he played under, Sandro said back in 2023 to talkSPORT: “It was De Zerbi, 100 per cent.

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“I worked with him and fell in love with him in the first week … He’s got passion. He’s there every day, like a teacher. He practised a lot, the repetition.”

Sandro later told BBC Sport: “He’s a manager who wants to have the ball all the time. A very intelligent and very particular manager who thinks a lot about the game.

“He helps players and gives them the details they need to hurt the opponent. Benevento were in a very bad situation, but De Zerbi picked some players to try to improve the team and I was part of that.

“I didn’t know that I was going to meet one of the best coaches that I’ve had. It was amazing because I learned a lot from him, and I really enjoyed playing for him. I saw great things.

“When I arrived there, I was already an experienced player and I’d seen so many coaches. He made me come to games with fire, like ‘what’s he going to teach us today? What are we going to do?’ You must be good to do that. I wanted more. I wanted to play for him.”

How the Spurs players have reacted to the De Zerbi news

It has been reported by The Times that De Zerbi’s arrival has caused some excitement among the Tottenham squad.

The outlet claimed that the Spurs players who have stayed back at Hotspur Way during the international break even met for dinner to discuss their excitement about working with the former Brighton boss.

Former Brighton star Adam Lallana has shared his candid thoughts regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi.

De Zerbi has been handed a five-year deal with Spurs, with the Lilywhites choosing to bet big on the Italian as a long-term option rather than going in with another interim option after sacking Igor Tudor.

The 46-year-old returns to the Premier League two years after he left Brighton, who he took to their record points tally of 62 back in the 2022-23 campaign.

De Zerbi has said he has big long-term ambitions at Spurs, although he made it clear that his priority for now is to keep the club in the Premier League.

Adam Lallana is convinced Tottenham will not be relegated with Roberto De Zerbi

Some pundits have questioned whether De Zerbi is the right man to navigate Spurs through a relegation battle, despite his obvious strengths as a manager.

However, Lallana, who worked with the 46-year-old for two years at the Amex Stadium, is convinced that his former boss will keep the Lilywhites up, comparing his style of management to Jurgen Klopp’s.

When asked if he expects De Zerbi to keep Tottenham Hotspur up, the former England international told talkSPORT: “Definitely. Not even a doubt in my mind. I just think they’re very, very fortunate. I’m actually slightly jealous. I was speaking to a player at Spurs who was picking my brains about him. I just know they’re going to be in for a rollercoaster, but a great one.”

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“I always compared him (De Zerbi) with Jurgen, actually. Probably just the passion that they both possess for the game. I think tactically and game mode-wise, they’re completely different. But in terms of love and passion for football, they’re exactly the same.”

Lallana expects De Zerbi to motivate Spurs squad

Some may wonder if the Italian’s adventurous and high-risk style may be conducive to a scrap at the bottom of the table, but Lallana revealed that the new Tottenham boss will be cautious of the Lilywhites’ current predicament.

The former Liverpool attacking midfielder also spoke glowingly of De Zerbi’s ability to motivate his players and get them to buy into his methods.

Lallana added: “Roberto’s an extremely smart man. He’ll know he’s not got time to play a certain way, a certain style. He won’t be snobbish to not understand that. He knows he’s got to go in there and motivate a group of men.

“Luckily for Roberto, he might not know that but he’s one of the most inspirational managers and people there is, in my opinion. After five minutes of him speaking in our first meeting when he joined Brighton, I was on board. I have no doubt he’d be able to emulate that at Spurs.”

Tottenham Hotspur have done something unusual to convince Roberto De Zerbi to take the job, with the Italian being entrusted with a huge responsibility at the North London club.

Some pundits are surprised that Spurs have been able to attract De Zerbi despite being in the middle of a relegation battle.

The Lilywhites have offered a five-year contract to the Italian, and the length of the deal has raised some eyebrows, given the newcomer’s history of falling out with clubs.

It has now emerged that Tottenham have gone even further behind the scenes, handing the 46-year-old ultimate power.

Roberto De Zerbi will have an Alex Ferguson-style managerial role at Tottenham

According to a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness), De Zerbi will work in a structure where his role is closer to the traditional English manager role.

The Italian’s influence at Tottenham Hotspur will stretch far beyond the pitch, with the former Brighton boss set to be a central figure in the club’s football decisions.

De Zerbi will have a major say in squad building, direction and long-term planning, similar to the role Sir Alex Ferguson had at Man United in the past.

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This is different to how most clubs are structured in the modern-day, with head coaches working within defined sporting hierarchies.

What convinced De Zerbi to change his mind on Spurs job

Gazzetta explain that at first, De Zerbi resisted the idea of taking the Tottenham job immediately and preferred to assess his options in the summer.

However, Spurs persisted, and their willingness to align fully with the Italian’s ideas ultimately convinced him.

It is revealed that the club’s willingness to offer De Zerbi a say in decisions beyond the first-team also proved crucial in swaying him to take the job.

Roberto De Zerbi has told Tottenham Hotspur to secure the services of an experienced midfielder whom he has worked with in the past.

While not all Tottenham fans are thrilled by De Zerbi’s appointment, the hope among the fan base would be that the Italian’s arrival could help galvanise a squad which looks completely devoid of confidence.

The newcomer has just seven games to avert relegation disaster, and the fact that De Zerbi has signed a five-year deal with no relegation break clause suggests that he is confident of keeping the club in the top-flight.

There is no doubt that the 46-year-old will want to put his own imprint on the squad in the summer to suit his style of play, and he has wasted no time in identifying a target.

Roberto De Zerbi has told Tottenham to sign Manuel Locatelli this summer

Calcio Mercato are now reporting that Manuel Locatelli’s name has been added to Tottenham’s summer wishlist at the request of the North London club’s new head coach.

The report reveals that during the initial discussions between Spurs and De Zerbi, there were also discussions on potential transfer targets.

While the focus at Tottenham is on staying in the Premier League, the club have already started preparing for a summer rebuild with the Italian at the helm.

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During those discussions, De Zerbi specifically named Locatelli, whom he had worked with at Sassuolo many years ago.

The report adds that Juventus consider cashing in on the Italian international this summer, as he has just two years left on his contract in Turin.

Spurs’ midfield needs a lot of work to fit De Zerbi’s approach

The area of the park that needs the most work this summer for Tottenham is arguably their midfield.

While the Lilywhites have some extremely talented young midfielders in their squad, Spurs’ senior midfielders have been criticised this season for their inability to progress the ball.

With De Zerbi’s system relying on the midfielders to receive the ball in tight spaces and play through the press, one should not be surprised if Tottenham make multiple additions to their central midfield ranks this summer.

Roberto De Zerbi has made some interesting plans for his first few days as Tottenham Hotspur coach, according to Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge.

De Zerbi is set to pick up the pieces after Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank’s disappointing spells at N17, with the newcomer having just seven league matches to save Tottenham from relegation.

The last thing that the Italian will want on his CV is to become the first manager to take Spurs down in nearly 50 years.

De Zerbi is already working on assembling his staff at Spurs, and the Italian has his priorities clear in his first few days at the club.

When will Roberto De Zerbi start working with the full Tottenham squad?

Michael Bridge revealed that De Zerbi arrived in London on Wednesday, but he will only have a full squad to work with once all the internationals have returned by Friday.

Interestingly, the journalist reveals that the newcomer has no plans to hold a press conference this week, as he wants to fully focus on preparing the team for their trip to Sundeland on April 12.

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Bridge wrote on X yesterday morning: “Roberto De Zerbi expected to arrive in London today. He will start work with the full squad on Friday when everyone has returned from international duty. There are no plans for him to have a press conference this week. He wants to have a week to work with the players, assess his options and prepare for the game at Sunderland a week on Sunday.”

De Zerbi commits himself to Spurs for the long term

According to reports, De Zerbi’s five-year contract does not have a break clause in case Tottenham are relegated from the Premier League.

In fact, some outlets claim that the Italian coach has committed to rebuilding Spurs’ team even if they find themselves in the Championship next season.

Roberto De Zerbi will not be able to work with a football legend he really wanted to be a part of the coaching staff at Tottenham Hotspur.

De Zerbi has begun working at Hotspur Way, and the Italian will have an extremely busy week and a half as he prepares the team for their big clash at Sunderland.

The 46-year-old will also have to finalise the make-up of his backroom staff for what appears to be a long-term project, unlike many of his previous managerial stints.

De Zerbi has made it clear that he has big ambitions at Tottenham, although his priority for now is to keep the club in the Premier League.

Alessando Nesta will not join Roberto De Zerbi’s coaching staff at Tottenham

Over the last few days, it has been widely reported that De Zerbi wants Italian football icon Alessandro Nesta to be part of his coaching set-up at Tottenham.

The World Cup-winning centre-back has been out of the game for almost a year since departing his role as Monza’s head coach at the end of last season.

However, The Sun have now revealed that the new Tottenham head coach is not expected to get his wish of working with the 50-year-old.

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The outlet says that Spurs are still sorting out De Zerbi’s coaching staff, but the new setup is not expected to include Nesta.

When will De Zerbi have his first press conference as Spurs boss?

The Sun backs up what other sources are saying regarding the former Brighton boss’s media duties, reporting that he is not expected to have a press conference this week.

The pre-match press conference ahead of the Sunderland clash on April 12 is set to be the first time that members of the media get a chance to address De Zerbi.

However, Spurs fans are expected to hear more from the Italian coach today via the club’s official website.

Roberto De Zerbi has made a big admission about what he intends to do as Tottenham Hotspur head coach in his first message to the fans.

The Tottenham players will have a new manager and coaching staff in place as they start trickling back from international duty.

De Zerbi will have a week and a half to prepare for his first game in charge, with the Lilywhites set to travel to the Stadium of Light on April 12.

The Italian has only seven games to prevent a relegation disaster at Spurs, but he has made it clear that he has a long-term plan at the North London club.

Roberto De Zerbi says he wants to stay at Tottenham for a ‘long time’

De Zerbi has signed a five-year contract with no relegation break clause at Tottenham, which shows his commitment to the project.

Reports indicate that the Italian coach is even prepared to rebuild the Spurs squad if they find themselves in the Championship next season.

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The 46-year-old has made it clear in his first video message to Spurs fans that he plans on staying at N17 for a long time and building something at the club.

De Zerbi told the club’s official channel: “Hello to all the Tottenham fans. I’m very happy to stay here with you. For me, it’s an honour and very proud to be your coach. I want to give my best. I want to stay for a long time in this big club. See you soon.”

Can De Zerbi lift the Spurs squad devoid of confidence?

Both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor failed to galvanise the squad and inspire a performance out of them, and the club will be hoping that the Italian is the man to change that.

Reports indicate that the Tottenham players are excited by De Zerbi’s appointment as the club’s head coach.

However, unlike Frank, De Zerbi does not have a whole season to bed in his ideas. The Italian has even less time than Tudor did, with only seven fixtures remaining to save Spurs from the drop.

Roberto De Zerbi will take charge of his first Tottenham Hotspur fixture later this month and his starting lineup could look quite different to the ones fielded by Igor Tudor.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action a week on Sunday in a match which will see Roberto De Zerbi manage his new team for the first time.

The Italian is expected to make an immediate switch to a 4-2-3-1 system, which should work much better than Tudor’s experiments.

Here is how De Zerbi’s lineup could look, based on what we already know about the new head coach.

Tottenham’s predicted XI to take on Sunderland

Antonin Kinsky – With Vicario unlikely to be fit until later in the month, Kinsky is likely to start against Sunderland. It will be a big test for the young Czechian, as he will be expected to begin Tottenham’s build-up play from the back. Usually the shot-stopper does this quite well, but this was not the case in Madrid the other week.

Pedro Porro – Spain were unable to defeat Egypt on Tuesday night, but Porro had a very good game. The right-back will be looking to turn this into a run of form for his club, as he looks to get settled under yet another new manager.

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Cristian Romero – Tottenham’s captain has had to do a lot of travelling for the international break, but he will be straight back in the team for De Zerbi’s first fixture. The Argentine will be a focal point for Spurs, both in getting attacks started, as well as showcasing his usual defensive abilities.

Micky van de Ven – There is a chance that De Zerbi will play van de Ven as a left-back, but he did not thrive in this role against Nottingham Forest. No matter where he starts, it will be interesting to see how the Dutchman gets on under the new boss. After all, he probably suffered a bigger decline than any other player when Tudor took charge.

Djed Spence – If van de Ven plays in the middle then Spence is highly likely to start out wide. The England international seems like the kind of player who could benefit from De Zerbi’s attacking style, so he is definitely one to watch.

Archie Gray – Should De Zerbi choose to drop Gray in his first game, he might as well just hand in his notice already. The 20-year-old has been a shining light in what has been a very dark time for Spurs and he should absolutely remain in the starting lineup.

Conor Gallagher – Tottenham’s worst signing of the past year might be a fitting title for Gallagher, at least for now. However, De Zerbi’s system could be exactly what he needs to thrive in the middle of the pitch. The manager has options in Sarr and Bergvall, but he might prefer to pair Gray with a more mature figure.

Mohammed Kudus – Whether Kudus will actually be fit for the Sunderland game remains to be seen, but Spurs do not really have any other options. It is possible Porro would play as a winger again, while one of the strikers could be pushed wide. Hopefully, none of these adjustments are required.

Xavi Simons – With the return of a 4-2-3-1 set-up, Simons should be back in the starting lineup. The midfielder was really good against Atletico Madrid and he could be one of the biggest improvers when De Zerbi takes charge.

Richarlison – Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Munai are both available, but Richarlison is the striker who has scored more goals than any of his teammates this season. De Zerbi will want a centre forward who bangs in goals and the Brazilian has shown he can do this, regardless of the opponent.