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Here's the Tottenham team that we reckon the new head coach could select for his debut in the dugout for the north London club

Roberto De Zerbi is set to name his first Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for Sunday's Premier League game at Sunderland.

Spurs have seven games of the season remaining and are currently in big trouble down in 18th place in the table after West Ham's comprehensive 4-0 victory against Wolves. Now the 46-year-old has taken charge as the club's fourth head coach in nine months and has a team that is yet to win a league match in 2026.

They face a tough task at Sunderland, who have impressed this season under Regis Le Bris, have a decent home record and come into the game after their derby win at Newcastle before the international break.

Antonin Kinsky will be De Zerbi's first goalkeeper between the sticks with Guglielmo Vicario in the final stages of recovering from his hernia operation and the 23-year-old Czech stopper will be looking to put that night in Madrid far in his rear view mirror.

De Zerbi spoke about Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie in glowing terms in his first Spurs press conference on Friday and said he wants to recreate the quartet's impact in Ange Postecoglou's season so that looks likely to be his first choice back four.

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He also named Dominic Solanke as another crucial senior player, while also praising various attackers and the midfield youngsters Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Xavi Simons. De Zerbi admitted that he had tried to sign Mathys Tel while at Marseille so he is someone he will look to further up the pitch.

He also had plenty of praise for Richarlison as well as Conor Gallagher with the Italian believed to have tried to sign the England international when he was Brighton head coach.

The Italian will likely go with his favoured 4-2-3-1, a system that Spurs used a lot over previous years, and it's going to be key for the new head coach to get the right blend and balance of players for it.

Here's the team we reckon De Zerbi might go with for his Tottenham debut:

Kinsky; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Gallagher; Kolo Muani, Xavi, Richarlison; Solanke.

The new Tottenham Hotspur head coach has got plans to get the best out of two of the north London club's big signings this season

Roberto De Zerbi believes he knows how to get the best out of Tottenham's £86million duo Conor Gallagher and Xavi Simons.

The Italian has taken the helm of Spurs with the club languishing in the Premier League's bottom three and yet to win a match in the competition in 2026. To stand any chance of beating the drop, De Zerbi must get the north London outfit's star players firing in the final seven matches of the campaign, starting with Sunday's trip to Sunderland.

One of those underperforming stars will be January signing Gallagher, who arrived from Atletico Madrid after turning down the advances of Aston Villa but the 26-year-old has struggled to make any impact since his £35million move. Another is Dutch starlet Xavi, who has created more chances than any other Spurs player since signing for £51million from RB Leipzig last summer but struggled for consistent starts under Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank.

De Zerbi called the 22-year-old former PSG youngster a "big talent" while admitting that "I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea at the time", having tried to sign the England international when he was Brighton boss.

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The new Tottenham head coach has a clear idea of how he can get more out of the potentially dynamic duo.

"Two parts. One part, the focus on the ball, on the pitch, to put them in the best position, the favourite position they feel, for sure, and the mental part," he said. "I think for Gallagher it's not so easy because he left Chelsea after I don't know how many seasons. He went to Atletico Madrid, and now in Tottenham, in this moment for Tottenham.

"He was a leader in Chelsea, and now he has to adapt to a new club, to new team-mates, to a new stadium, to a new everything. I have to help him to put as a target the Gallagher in Chelsea."

The 46-year-old added: "Also for the other players, it's the position on the pitch, [Mohammed] Kudus was one player because he already knew what I demand for the winger (after De Zerbi came close to signing the currently injured attacker before he joined West Ham).

“And all players, one part mental side and one part on the pitch to give more solutions when we have the ball, and change the focus from the defensive phase to the offensive phase, because if we have to concede a goal, we concede a goal.

“But the DNA of these players, of this club, of these players, is to keep the ball and to try the condition to score, not to be worried [about conceding] because we need to win the game."

Fabio Paratici wants to replicate his work at Tottenham Hotspur in Italy, describing the club's facilities as of a 'superior standard'.

Fabio Paratici has reflected on his time at Tottenham Hotspur, offering a glimpse into the day-to-day operations of life in north London. The 53-year-old enjoyed two spells at Hotspur Way, with the first of which beginning in the summer of 2021.

Paratici was at the helm until in April 2023, when he resigned after an appeal against a 30-month ban for financial irregularities was rejected by Italy's highest sports court. The Italian was suspended in light of Juventus, where he was previously a sporting director and managing director, being found guilty of of false accounting.

The Old Lady were deducted 10 points in the Serie A. Then, in September 2025, a plea bargain request was accepted and Paratici, among other former Juventus executives, were spared a 18-month prison sentence.

A month later, and two-and-a-half-years following his ban, he was named co-sporting director, alongside Johan Lange. Just three months after returning to Hotspur Way, Tottenham confirmed that Paratici would leave to take up a similar role at Fiorentina from February.

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In an interview with Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, he reflected on his time in north London. Paratici said: "The Premier League is as good as the NBA. I’ll just tell you that the head of human resources evaluated 50 resumes for my assistant. Everything there is perfect, and of a superior standard.

"They run more, but above all they run the ball faster. They have to learn to pass better for that, and the training pitches are always mowed and wet. Technique comes naturally that way."

Paratici wants to replicate his work at Tottenham in Italy. He continued: "First and foremost, extensive training for the 110 employees at the training centre.

"It’s essential because I study every day of my life, while in Italy everything is empirical. I’m talking about numbers, not algorithms, which would just screw things up.

"The numbers give me the names of the three best players for the position I’m looking for, then the choice is mine and it also depends on gut feeling. Intuition is crucial."

"Whereas here, everything is considered an opinion, and as such, it’s legitimate. Instead, I say that missing three World Cups isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact. Terrible."

On his ban from football, Paratici said: "I don’t feel guilty of anything, if that’s what you’re asking. That said, it was a very difficult experience because the criminal investigation lasted five and a half years, and it took strength to sustain it.

"I was convicted for a technical-financial strategy that involved many internationals," added the former Tottenham chief. "An unprecedented accounting principle was applied, which I’m waiting to review.

"The documents mention this, not inflated capital gains, as is being rumoured. In a sporting trial, you can’t defend yourself; there’s little you can do. I wanted to close the criminal trial so I could start living again."

Roberto De Zerbi has made a big change from Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank at Tottenham as he prepares to begin his reign and bid to keep Spurs up

Roberto De Zerbi reportedly has made changes to Tottenham players' training, with sessions now very different to what they were under previous bosses Igor Tudor and Thomas Frank.

Spurs have spent ten days working with their new head coach ahead of their Premier League match away to Sunderland. However, despite there being three weeks between their last two games due to their exits in the Champions League and FA Cup, the Italian is said to have not scheduled double sessions during this time, limiting them to one per day.

De Zerbi will have done so in the hope of avoiding any injuries. Mohammed Kudus, though, has since sustained a setback.

Spurs confirmed in an injury update on Thursday that "he had returned to team training during the past week, however, will now require further specialist review and, potentially, surgery."

The Daily Mail claims that De Zerbi has also made training sessions longer than they were under Tudor and Frank and always with the ball. The report also states that the new boss has taken an immediate shine to six players, including Kudus, whom he tried to sign for Marseille.

He said of the Ghana international: "I started not with too big luck, but yes, Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position, but we have to look forward anyway."

The other five players he singled out were Kolo Muani, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Mathys Tel and Richarlison. The Italian added: "I think we have a lot of very good attackers, and we have to help them, to put them in the best condition to show their qualities.

"Because Kolo Muani, I know he's not playing a great season, but he's a good player. I know him, like Mathys Tel. I wanted him in Marseille when I was in Marseille.

"Xavi Simons is a big talent. Richarlison, [Dominic] Solanke, you know maybe better than me. We have to put them in the best condition we can."

On the squad overall, De Zerbi continued: "In the last period, I watched a lot of games, especially of Tottenham. Yes, one thing is to watch the game at home, and a different thing is to work with them on the pitch.

"We have very big players, young players, [Lucas] Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons. We have older players that are very important.

"[Micky] van de Ven is a crucial player for me, like [Cristian] Romero, like [Pedro] Porro, like Solanke. I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved at Chelsea.

"I think I'm lucky because I have a big confidence in my players, in their qualities. My target is to help them to play well, to enjoy with the ball, because their characteristics are very clear for me."

The target on the pitch is now to get out of the relegation zone after West Ham United beating Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night dropped Spurs into the bottom three. Only a win at the Stadium of Light will do, with West Ham moving two points ahead of Tottenham having played before them this weekend.

Tottenham may finally be able to unleash their long-term Harry Kane replacement next season under Roberto De Zerbi

When a 20-year-old Harry Kane returned to Tottenham after an underwhelming loan stint at Leicester City in 2013, few would have predicted his subsequent demolition of numerous goal-scoring records.

More than a decade on, Tottenham could find themselves in an eerily similar situation with Oxford United loanee Will Lankshear, albeit following a considerably more successful spell in the Championship.

It would be unreasonable to immediately burden Lankshear by branding him as Tottenham's 'next Harry Kane', yet his current career path makes it challenging to avoid drawing such parallels.

There is indeed some substance to warrant such a comparison, with Oxford Mail reporter Malachi Obrey, who has monitored Lankshear throughout the season, confirming that he and Kane do possess certain similarities, while acknowledging aspects of his game requiring development.

He told the Mirror: "I definitely see similarities, [Harry] Kane is an incredibly well-rounded footballer, not only was his finishing arguably the best in the Premier League, but he also was a top-three passer.

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"So I think there is a lot to do to become that sort of pedigree of footballer, but I can see it [in Lankshear], as a physical No.9 who is clever and can finish. Basically, all of his goals have come inside the box, so it would be good to see if he can work on getting a snapshot off from range.

"But there are definitely traits there that you can see, but there are other parts of his game that he'll need to improve on if he wants to hit those heights. He is very highly thought of by journalists, coaches, team-mates and people at Spurs, so I'll be surprised if he doesn't become a Premier League-level striker."

The Spurs academy forward has been at Oxford since last August following a somewhat turbulent 2024/25 campaign.

His introduction to senior football began with a red card against Galatasaray in the Europa League, having netted his first senior goal in that very match, before concluding with an underwhelming loan stint at West Brom.

Lankshear failed to find the net during his time at the Hawthorns, yet has gone on to score 10 goals and contribute three assists for Oxford this season. He hit the ground running with three goals in his opening five matches and, despite facing obstacles such as a change in management, he navigated these challenges impressively.

"He seemed quite raw but as the season has gone on, he's rounded his game quite well," Obrey said. "He was a little bit more out of the team under Gary Rowett earlier in the season. He was mostly playing in a front two with Nik Prelec and he also quite liked Mark Harris' work rate.

"So it was tough for any of the strikers to get a run of more than two or three games. For a player like Will Lankshear, he needs to play consistently and in a struggling team, you're not going to get too many chances.

"Since Matt Bloomfield has come in, he's established himself as the No.9 and he has become a real fan favourite, the old mantra of 'never fall in love with a loan player', I think if an Oxford United fan said they hadn't, they would be lying."

Crucially, with Oxford battling to avoid the Championship drop, just under half of his 13 goal contributions have arrived in the club's last seven fixtures.

Reflecting on his recent displays and ability to deliver when it matters most, Obrey said: "I think he is someone who thrives under pressure and in tense environments. He scored his goal on (Easter) Monday (vs Portsmouth) and just gives it large to the Pompey fans.

"I think the team struggled in that atmosphere but he's not someone that shrinks under that sort of pressure and he really backs himself. He has missed chances but it's great that he gets into those positions.

"If worse comes to worse and Spurs go down, he can be someone that has the experience and know how to get into those positions against Championship defenders."

Irrespective of his technical qualities, Tottenham supporters almost always develop a strong connection with academy products, and it appears highly probable that this will prove true with Lankshear, given the impression he has made during his stint at the Kassam Stadium.

"I don't think he is the prettiest footballer to watch, but he is a very effective one that will score goals," Obrey acknowledged. "The one thing that has captivated Oxford United fans is the way he carries himself and the way he speaks - you would not guess that he is on loan.

"He has been all in for the cause. He turned down moves to higher-end Championship teams in January just to see out the season with Oxford. He has a real personality on the pitch, in times where teams are struggling that is huge and if Spurs were to come down and start afresh, he would have an impact."

Lankshear isn't the sole Spurs youngster at Oxford, as Jamie Donley joined him at the Kassam Stadium in January. The 21-year-old suffered an injury on his debut approximately two months ago, but has since made a notable impression operating just behind Lankshear.

Discussing his recent performances, Obrey remarked: "The first cameo or two, he eased into it a little bit but he's been a real glue for the team.

"Oxford went on a three-game winning in March after quite a tough period and it was the same starting XI for those and that winning run coincided with him being picked and being at the heart as the link between midfield and attack.

"It was a real problem for Oxford that no one would be occupying that No.10 area but when he came in, he took that and really owned it. He is someone that has brought dead-ball delivery to the team and I think he got an assist for Lankshear's goal with a great delivery.

"He's good on the half-turn and has a great final ball, it is those little things that have given Oxford United goal-scoring opportunities and sometimes goals that maybe they didn't have before coming into the team."

With both players earning such glowing assessments, Tottenham appear to have a pair of talents primed to make their mark, whatever division the club finds itself in.

football.london reporters have picked their Tottenham starting XI for Sunday's Premier League trip to Sunderland

Tottenham are ready to wipe the slate clean under new boss Roberto De Zerbi when they travel to Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend.

Spurs have just seven games to preserve their top-flight status and the clock is now ticking for the Europa League winners in their quest to beat the drop.

De Zerbi has already lost forward Mohammed Kudus to a fresh injury setback while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario won't be ready to face the Black Cats following recent hernia surgery.

football.london reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor have had their go at selecting the Tottenham XI De Zerbi should pick against Sunderland.

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Alasdair Gold - Chief Tottenham Reporter

Antonin Kinsky will be the goalkeeper with Guglielmo Vicario still recovering from his hernia operation and the Czech stopper will be looking to put that night in Madrid far in his rear view mirror.

De Zerbi has spoken about Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie in glowing terms and looking to recreate their impact in Ange Postecoglou's season so that looks to be his first choice back four.

He also named Dominic Solanke as another crucial senior player with the first three of those defenders, while also praising various attackers and the midfield youngsters Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Xavi Simons. De Zerbi admitted that he had tried to sign Mathys Tel while at Marseille so he is someone he will look to further up the pitch.

The key is finding balance and whether he can fit them all in as well as a fighter like the versatile Richarlison and the same goes for the midfield with plenty of options in there, including Yves Bissouma back in training and a player in Conor Gallagher who he also wanted to sign in the past..

The Italian will likely go to his favoured 4-2-3-1 and it's going to be key to get the right blend and balance of players for it.

Gold's team: Kinsky; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Palhinha; Kolo Muani, Xavi, Tel; Solanke.

Ryan Taylor

Antonin Kinsky obviously starts between the sticks but it's hard to envisage what system De Zerbi will go with given he usually pivots between two different formations: 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1, which he utilised at Marseille.

I'm going to go for the latter as it's important Spurs sure things up defensively. Micky van de Ven, Cuti Romero and Kevin Danso make up the back-three with Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro operating as wing-backs.

Archie Gray (No.6) and Lucas Bergvall (No.8) play in midfield with Mathys Tel and Richarlison feeding off Dominic Solanke in attack.

It feels a tad unbalanced but ultimately, some players just do not suit this system and the lack of a right-sided attacking player is an issue De Zerbi must navigate.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Xavi Simons start either, in my opinion, it would work better with both him and Tel behind Solanke as both are slightly more mobile than Richarlison, who is a natural striker.

A number of players could be missing for Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge of Tottenham as the Italian prepares to deal with a long list of absentees

Roberto De Zerbi could be without 10 players for his first game as the new Tottenham head coach. Spurs travel to Sunderland on Sunday looking to record their first win in 2026 and boost their Premier League survival hopes.

The north London club dropped into the bottom three on Friday following West Ham's win against Wolves and are facing a fight to avoid falling into the second tier for the first time since 1977. They sit in 18th, two points behind the Hammers and 16th-place Nottingham Forest.

With seven matches to go, De Zerbi, 46, has a huge task on his hands to first keep Spurs in the top flight following his appointment as the club's new head coach earlier this month. The Italian was appointed on a lucrative five-year contract following Igor Tudor's dismissal.

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But De Zerbi could be missing TEN first-team players for his side's trip to the Stadium of Light. Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Mohammed Kudus are long-term absentees and remain out.

Ben Davies is expected to be back in late-April but won't return for Sunderland. Rodrigo Bentancur and Guglielmo Vicario are pushing to be fit for the home game against Brighton next week, while Yves Bissouma, Mathys Tel and Pape Matar Sarr are facing a race against time to feature to take on Sunderland.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, De Zerbi first issued an update on Kudus, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from a long-term quadricep injury.

"I started not with too big luck, but yes, Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position, but we have to look forward anyway," De Zerbi said.

De Zerbi then talked about Vicario, who underwent hernia surgery following the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last month, and Bentancur as he prepares to return from a thigh issue.

"Vicario is not ready for this game," De Zerbi added. "I hope he comes back earlier next week, but I don't know yet. Bentancur is working with us, but not completely, but we are enough to fight, to play and to make points."

The new Tottenham Hotspur head coach has been speaking about what he plans to do with the north London club in the weeks and years ahead

Roberto De Zerbi wants to bring back the attacking verve of Ange Postecoglou's first season to take Tottenham to the top of the Premier League after first keeping them in it.

The Italian shelved his plans to rest until the summer after leaving Marseille to get started at relegation-threatened Spurs. The north London club have seven games of the season to go and are in all kinds of trouble in 18th place in the table after West Ham's emphatic 4-0 victory against Wolves.

While Thomas Frank bewilderingly declared in his first press conference last summer that Tottenham would lose matches - and they did - De Zerbi is focused on taking Spurs to the top after first saving them from the drop.

De Zerbi's tenures at Brighton and Marseille ended after 19 months apiece but after penning a big money, five-year contract at Tottenham, the 46-year-old intends to be in it for the long-term and take the club to the other end of the Premier League.

"In my plan for sure there is the idea to stay for a long time, to try to put Tottenham, I'm not speaking about the titles because it's not the right moment now, but to put Tottenham to stay in the first position in the Premier League because there are all parts to reach that level," he said.

De Zerbi stressed that joining early was never about the money, with his deal reportedly worth £12million a year.

"No, you can find the right answer in my history, because I left a lot of money in my life, and the money never changed my focus on my work," he said. "For me, it's not a problem, this situation for Tottenham. You have to have a longer vision. The focus is on this season, these seven games, to keep in the Premier League and then we will see."

De Zerbi is Spurs' fourth head coach in nine months after Ange Postecoglou was sacked weeks after ending the club's trophy drought with the Europa League triumph last summer. The more pragmatic Frank and Igor Tudor followed but did not last.

The new man in the hot seat wants to bring more of the attacking flair that Tottenham showed in the first season of Postecoglou's reign, rather than giving up possession as they did under his successors.

"I want to keep the ball. I want to see again the Tottenham I watched with Postecoglou because in my second season in Brighton, there was Postecoglou here with a lot of these players and it was one of the best teams in terms of quality of play," said De Zerbi.

"With Pedro Porro, Udogie, Van de Ven, with Romero and I would like to see it again."

De Zerbi has had little time for anything else in his first week outside of football as he has worked to get his core beliefs across to the players, mainly the mental aspect of the game.

"I’ve had a lot of individual meetings with the players. A lot. I’ve spoken with all players. I analysed Sunderland because it is a tough game. They are playing a great season with very good players and a very good coach," said the new head coach.

"I have no time to think of other things. Just football, just meeting the players, organising, transferring and finding the best way to transfer my ideas, two or three, not too many ideas, that I want to see on the pitch from Sunday."

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Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will not be fit yet after his hernia surgery for De Zerbi's debut in the dugout at Sunderland on Sunday. That means Antonin Kinsky will take to the pitch for the first time since being hauled off by Tudor just 17 minutes into his gaffe-strewn horror show at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

De Zerbi is not worried about a repeat against another team in red and white stripes this weekend though and while he has spoken to many of the players in the past week, he has not felt the need to put an arm around the 23-year-old Czech stopper.

"I didn't speak yet with him because I think he doesn't need to speak too much," said the Italian. "I have confidence. He has to be strong, but he is strong enough to show what he can do.

"Not more, not less. I think his qualities are enough to play at Tottenham. The other players believe in him. He has to stay calm and confident. He is playing at Tottenham, so he has to be stronger than the mistakes and move on."

De Zerbi was also asked whether he was surprised by the backlash to his comments about Mason Greenwood while he was at Marseille with the controversial former Manchester United striker.

Supporter groups Women of the Lane, Proud Lilywhites and Spurs Reach had all released statements with a 'No to De Zerbi' campaign and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust made their feelings on the 46-year-old clear. It came from him describing Greenwood as a "good guy" that had paid a "heavy price" and added: “It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described."

Ex-Manchester United forward Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a young women after images and videos were posted online. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 due to a "combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses" and "no realistic prospect of conviction".

Speaking in Italian on Friday to ensure he could make himself clear, De Zerbi said: "I wasn’t surprised [by the backlash]. I was a bit sad and sorry it happened, because I’m sorry if somebody took offence. I must repeat what I said the other time [in his club interview]. This topic is very close to me, I’m very sensitive about this topic, because of the person I am and because I have a daughter.

"And so I must repeat what I said the other time. I have always been against – always – any type of violence, especially against women. But not only violence – even just sexist jokes or other sexist behaviour. I have a daughter and I’m directly affected by it. I know who I am, I know the type of person I am, so I wasn’t annoyed by the questions – I’m just sad about them."

He added: "Yes [I hope the fans will accept the apology], also because I’m not going to go back over this topic. I spoke about it in my first interview, I spoke about it today, and it wouldn't be right to go back over this topic again."

De Zerbi explained why he believes he can save Tottenham from the drop.

"The qualities of the players. The guys know the situation is very difficult, but if you watch them against Liverpool and also Atletico Madrid in Madrid, they showed their qualities, they showed sometimes the right spirit. We have to show this for 90 minutes and we have to believe in ourselves," he said.

"The most important part in football is the mental part. You are used to speaking too much about the style of play, the tactical disposition, blah, blah, blah. But in the end, the mental part is crucial in every work, especially in football, especially in this moment in Tottenham."

On his players he added: "They are working very, very well. I’m not surprised, but it’s not normal after we didn’t win too many games in 2025 and we haven’t won any game so far in 2026.

"So you imagine the atmosphere inside of the dressing room, of the training ground, but it's not like this. I saw the players with energy, with the passion when in the meeting room and we are speaking about football, about two or three principles. They were on with the right focus, so I’m positive for that."

Here's every single word the new Tottenham Hotspur head coach said in his first press conference ahead of his debut against Sunderland

Roberto De Zerbi has held his first press conference as Tottenham boss ahead of his opening game in the dugout at Sunderland on Sunday.

The Italian is looking to lead Spurs to their first Premier League win in 2026 and then keep the north London club in the Premier League at the end of their final seven matches of the campaign. Ahead of that De Zerbi took his place in the press conference room at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon to speak to reporters about what lies ahead.

He spoke about the latest injury news, particularly that setback for Mohammed Kudus, as well as the players who will be key to him in his time at the club.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to De Zerbi. Here's the full transcript from the Italian's first press conference at Hotspur Way.

Have you enjoyed your first week at Tottenham Hotspur?

Yes, first of all, I'm proud and happy to be here. I have to say thanks to Vinai and Johan, because they showed me a big, big confidence. Now I have to work. Now we have to make points. I'm sure about the level of the players, because many players in the past I was very, very close to bring them in my former teams. They are working very well. I think I'm not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor, because I consider them very good coaches. I try to bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my passion, to help the players first of all to show their qualities, because they have a lot of qualities. And then to achieve our target, because the most important part now is our target.

Are you confident that you can keep this club in the Premier League?

Yes, yes. I knew before to work with them. I understood that they are good guys. The fans have to be happy, because all players are good guys. They are suffering for this difficult situation. I want to see (what they are like) in the game, because during the week it's easier. But I think the voice inside of the pitch has changed. I observed them at the beginning of my time last week, and now I'm more positive for sure.

If fans are still having concerns, what is your message to them?

I have not any message because also in the last game against Nottingham Forest, they were fantastic before the game. The message for my staff and for my players is we have to deserve their support because the fans are suffering like us, like the players, but the fans there is just one club and just one team. The players can change team and club, but the fans, it is unique their club and so we have to make happy our fans. Play well, with the right spirit, with the right attitude, with the right behaviour on the pitch and then it is easier to make points.

The big question for most is why now? Why take this job now?

Why now? Because you cannot consider your angle or how you look at the situation, from my perspective, it was a big opportunity because Tottenham is one of the most important clubs in Premier League and Premier League is best league in world. I know the qualities of the players. We have a lot of specific players for my style and then there was a crucial part that there was 12 days before first game. For me it was important to have not too much time, but 10 days, more than one week and I thought it could be important to understand the problems. I don’t want to give too many principles and too many instructions on the pitch if we are talking about just football, but organisation with the ball, without the ball, I hope in one week, 10 days, to reach this target for me.

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What is the nature of Mohammed Kudus’ injury and is he ruled out of this season and the World Cup?

Yes, I started not with too big luck! Yes, Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position, but we have to look forward anyway. I think we have a lot of very good attackers and we have to help them, to put them in the best condition to show their qualities because Kolo Muani I know he is not playing a great season, but he is a good player. I know him. Like I know Mathys Tel, I wanted him in Marseille when I was at Marseille, Xavi Simons is a big talent, Richarlison and Solanke you maybe know better than me but we have to put them in the best condition we can.

How is Guglielmo Vicario doing? Can any other players come back?

No, Vicario is not ready for this game. I hope he can come back earlier next week, but I don't know yet. Bentancur is working with us but not completely, but we have enough to fight to play, to make points.

You must be confident about keeping Spurs up as there is no relegation clause in your contract?

I believe to keep the Premier League, first of all. It has to be clear to everyone. I want to work in the Premier League and I believe I deserve to work in the Premier League. But the main sense of my work is more than the league. If I sign my contract in April I have to be ready to stay, no matter what, in the next season. I want to stay focused on Sunderland and the other six games. But my idea is very clear.

How do you convince players who might be wanting to leave this summer?

It’s not important for me now. Now we have to push altogether, all players and staff in the training and all fans inside the stadium, to achieve our goal. And then we will see. For sure I don’t want players if they don’t want to stay. I have my contract for five years - for sure I want to say my opinion on the transfer market because I am a coach, but I want to see the players happy to work in this club.

You mentioned your style quite a few times. It was good to watch at Brighton and Spurs fans like a certain style, going back to the 70s with Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles, your style and Spurs, are they the ideal marriage, the ideal fit?

Listen, my style is one part, about the style of play and one part about the character, the personality. I have no time enough to work in the principle or in build-up so much, or in the last 20 metres. I want to give organisation with the ball and without the ball. Two principles without the ball, three principles, four more. Something more in possession, in offensive phase and that's it.

What I want to do, what I want to achieve immediately is the character, is the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack. Because the DNA of this club, of this squad is to find the goal, to score. In this part I can be able to transfer, not in too much time, my principle.

You know a lot of these players from the outside, are there any in the last week of training that surprised you when you've seen them up close, maybe younger players like Archie Gray or Lucas Bergvall?

In the last period I watched a lot of games, especially of Tottenham. Yes, one thing is to watch the game at home and a different thing is to work with them on the pitch.

We have very big players, young players, Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, but anyway we have older players that are very important. Van der Ven is a crucial player for me, like Romero, like Porro, like Solanke. I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea at the time.

I think I'm lucky because I have a big confidence in my players, their qualities and for me my target is to help them to play well, to enjoy with the ball because their characteristics are very clear for me.

You've only brought in two coaches with you that you've worked with in the past. You normally bring at least six or seven that you know with you. Does that make it any more difficult to get your ideas across quickly?

It's totally different this situation because we have no time to work like in Brighton or Marseille or in other places I've been and I don't want to put confusion inside of the players. They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction, not too much thinking.

They have to run where is the ball, they have to play with courage, with personality and they have to fight. That's it. For me, my demand is to show the right spirit I want to see.

You've signed a long contract, normally you spend a certain amount of time at clubs, maybe not long term. What makes you think Tottenham is the one that maybe you will settle down at for longer?

I stayed three years in Sassuolo and then I left from Ukraine when the war started. In Brighton I left for different problems and in Marseille maybe the same. I would like to stay four or five, for a long time. I don't know how many years but in Marseille like this because in Marseille my idea was to stay for a long time.

Then you have to speak with the club and when you have a different view of football or other things you have to leave money and you have to leave. But in my plan for sure there is the idea to stay for a long time, to try to put Tottenham, I'm not speaking about the titles because it's not the right moment now, but to put Tottenham to stay in the first position in the Premier League because there are all parts to reach that level.

Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic will not be available to feature for Hamburg this weekend in their Bundesliga clash at Stuttgart

Hamburg boss Merlin Polzin has confirmed Tottenham loanee Luka Vuskovic has picked up a knee issue.

The Croatia international has been a key figure for HSV since moving on loan to Germany at the start of the season.

However, he is set to sit out of this weekend's trip to Stuttgart due to what's been described as 'knee contusion'.

There is good news for Spurs though as the problem is not though to be serious and there's hope he could be ready to return against Werder Bremen on April 18.

Polzin said during a press conference on Friday: "Luka has a bruised knee and will therefore miss the upcoming match.

"He's doing everything he can to take care of himself and be ready to play. But he's not available, so it's about preparing the other guys well and giving them the confidence they need to perform well."

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Vuskovic is set for a well-earned rest after also featuring twice for Croatia during their recent international friendlies in the United States against Colombia and Brazil.

The 19-year-old centre-back scored in the 2-1 triumph over Colombia and is now pushing to secure a starting berth for his country at this summer's World Cup finals.

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has already confirmed Vuskovic will be part of his squad while Tottenham are expected to make a decision on the player's future following the tournament.

The teenager recently confirmed he expects to head back to Spurs this summer for pre-season despite widespread transfer interest in his signature.

He told German media: "After this season, I’ll be a Tottenham player again. I have a contract there until 2030."

Barcelona are monitoring Vuskovic, though you would expect new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi to cast an eye over the Croat during pre-season given he has excelled in the Bundesliga with HSV this season.

Vuskovic has already said on record that he'd be interested in returning to Hamburg on loan for another season if the Europa League winners cannot provide him with assurances over minutes.

His brother Mario is due to return from a doping ban later in the year and re-signing on loan would offer Vuskovic the chance to play alongside his sibling at club level.