The Tottenham Hotspur head coach has been speaking for the first time this season ahead of the pre-season friendly against Auckland FC
Roberto De Zerbi had plenty to say at his first press conference of the season as Tottenham arrived in New Zealand for their summer tour.
football.london was in Auckland to ask the questions after a summer in which the Spurs head coach has seen the club splash out £237m for him on new signings with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes joining for a combined £185million, £52million splurged on Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke with three free transfers secured for Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka.
Our Spurs reporter Alasdair Gold is in Auckland and was among those putting questions to De Zerbi ahead of Sunday's match against Auckland FC at Eden Park. Here's the full transcript from the press conference in New Zealand.
What are you wanting to get out of this game tomorrow?
It's an important game for us. We are at the beginning of the pre-season. The most important thing is to play a serious game, for sure, and don't take risks for the injuries because it was a very long trip. We are at the beginning of the season. We have a lot of players who suffered too many injuries last season, and we have to be serious on the pitch.
We have to improve everything we need, but we can't forget the season will start in 20-25 days, and we are here to improve our physical condition, our knowledge, our connection between the players. We are happy to be here because it's an amazing country, amazing experience for us, but we can't forget that we are here not on holiday, but we are here to be better when the Premier League starts.
What did you make of the traditional welcome you just got?
It's important for us because we know the culture of New Zealand. It's a great experience. We are looking forward to playing tomorrow and to play against the winner of the New Zealand League in front of a lot of people because I think there will be 40,000 spectators, and we are ready.
What's it like for you to travel this far for a game, and what's the longest you've travelled before to play a match?
It was the longest trip for sure, but listen, football in this part of the history is like this, because a lot of very important clubs, they go in the pre-season in this type of tournament.
We accept to do that, but anyway we can't lose our focus. Our focus is the beginning of the Premier League, to improve the physical condition of the players, the young players. They come inside of our methodology, of our style of play. We have no excuse, but it was a very long trip and we have to manage that in the best way.
You're taking on a club in Auckland FC currently without a manager. How do you approach a game like this?
Sometimes you know in football it's better if you are not a coach. You have to ask the players if he's better or worse. I know they won the last New Zealand league.
For sure they want to show they are good players. It will be a good game because we play with the best team we can put tomorrow. A lot of young players for sure because we have many players who finished the World Cup. We don't take risks, I have to repeat about the injuries, but for us it's a serious game for sure.
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How much is this game almost a trial for some of the younger players?
It's important because football for me is important the name, it's important the career, but it's important what I can watch on the game, during the game. We are all at the same place, the same point, especially for the young players.
I want them to play like a normal game because if we are here it's because we want to play well, we want to play seriously. No excuses, no friendly game, a normal game.
The club has been very decisive in the transfer window, spent big money early, how important has it been to get these players in quickly in pre-season and what else do you want to happen?
First of all I think it's not finished yet our transfer market window. We have to finish, we have to bring another couple, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players. I'm very happy, I'm excited to work with the new players, with the old players.
I think we are working very well with Johan and Vinai. We are working with a clear idea. We brought players with a great experience like Robbo.
I think we need this type of players because we need to increase experience, we have to improve in mentality. We have to be stronger because in the last two seasons we didn't do what Tottenham has to do. At the end of the transfer market we will make the point to close the transfer market session. But at the moment I'm very excited.
You've improved the defence in the window and two big midfielders as well, is it fair to say the attack is where you want more?
Yes, yes, the target now is to complete the attacking positions. We want the first target, the first level, because we have already important players. But I think to start a new project we need another couple of important players for sure.
Lucas Bergvall has been linked with a move away all summer, does the fact that he's on this tour tell us anything about his future?
Listen, I was very clear at the start of my time in Tottenham. I said 'Who doesn't want to stay in Tottenham, who is not happy, is not proud to stay here, has to leave'. I want proud players who are happy to stay here and to go on the pitch at Tottenham Stadium with a big motivation. If you think also in the World Cup, the motivation makes the difference. The motivation is to be happy to stay in one team.
I have not spoken with Lucas yet, I will in the next days. And we will make the best decision for the club, for Lucas, for me, for every one of us. Without problems, Lucas is a big, big talent. There will be a big competition to play because at the end I think we will be two players for each position. If he wants to stay, I will be happy. Otherwise, we have to find a new solution with Johan Lange, with Vinai (Venkatesham). It's not my business after the decision to leave (if that happens).
And why were Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr given more time off?
Bentancur is a crucial player for us, and Pape Sarr, the same. I spoke after the World Cup with players and for every one of them we take different ways. Bentancur asked me for one week more because he suffered a very tough season last season, and Pape Sarr has a personal problem, and he asked me for one week more. But nothing, no problem, nothing more than I said.
You've got exciting young players at the club, like Luca Williams-Barnett, is this an opportunity to look at players like him and how excited are you about him and others?I'm used to working with young players. I gave in my career big time and space for young players, but they have to show me they are able to play and they are good players. I never start from the age of the players. From the qualities? Yes. From the attitude and behaviours? Yes. But not for the age.
You've kept Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski at Hotspur Way as they continue their rehabilitation, how close are they both to returning?
And Vicario, because Vicario has an injury. Not a big injury, but he needs to stay one week in London.
How close are Kudus and Kulusevski though?
Kudus is very close, I think. When we come back to London, he will be available to start to work with us. It is a great thing for us. Because Kudus is another important player. And Kulusevski, we have to see in the next couple of weeks. He is another important player. But after one season, one complete season, without games, we have to analyse better and better and don't take risks for sure. First of all, for him, and then for us.
