Football London

Tottenham's relegation rivals Nottingham Forest were forced to explain why four key players missed open training on Saturday

Nottingham Forest have confirmed why all of Matz Sels, Elliot Anderson, Ola Aina and Omari Hutchinson missed open training amid injury concerns. The Forest squad were holding their latest session at the City Ground in front of supporters, but a key quartet were not in attendance.

Ahead of training, a club statement read: "Matz Sels and Elliot Anderson are resting following their recent international commitments, while Ola Aina and Omari Hutchinson are continuing with individual training programmes and will not be present with the group today."

All four of those players were in the starting XI that beat Tottenham before the international break and will more than likely feature over the coming week.

In the meantime, however, their respective loads are being managed with Forest playing four games in 10 days, starting with a Europa League quarter-final first leg away to Porto next Thursday.

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Three consecutive home games follow that, with the second leg in between fixtures against Aston Villa and Burnley. Relegation rivals West Ham United also have a busier schedule than Tottenham as they prepare for an FA Cup quarter-final against Leeds United on Sunday before returning to Premier League action against Wolves.

Tottenham's only focus is on the trip to Sunderland next weekend, with new head coach Roberto De Zerbi taking his first training session on Friday.

Some key players were not spotted out on the grass as several continue to recover from injury with Pape Sarr the latest to suffer a problem. Mathys Tel was present at Hotspur Way however, despite limping off against Forest with an issue that saw him miss France under-21 duty.

It was a very high-intensity session led by De Zerbi and players went home with rave reviews of the 46-year-old's first day of training, as football.london understands. Snippets of what he was instructing were also picked up by cameras, with it clear the ideas he is trying to implement.

During a rondo, he said: "One or two touch. With two touch it is impossible to lose the ball because we are five to pass against two. Enjoy, enjoy but you have to move. Enjoy with the ball.

"A lot of teams now they come man to man. Man to man you need to pass the ball. It's important, one touch, two touch."

De Zerbi will be hoping his tactics have an immediate impact with his first seven games in charge likely to define his tenure despite signing a five-year contract.

Alongside the trip to Sunderland, the Lilywhites also face Wolves, Aston Villa and Chelsea away from home. They welcome De Zerbi's former club Brighton, Leeds United and Everton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the coming weeks.

Luka Vuskovic has established himself as one of the most promising young players in Europe, let alone at Tottenham Hotspur, while out on loan at Hamburg.

Luka Vuskovic has suggested that he'll stay at Tottenham Hotspur next season. The 19-year-old defender, who's currently on loan at Hamburg, has been recently linked with a move to Bayern Munich following his impressive performances in the Bundesliga.

Vuskovic has featured 24 times in the German top flight this season, scoring five goals from centre-back. The Croatia international has helped the newly-promoted outfit distance themselves from a relegation scrap, with only goal difference currently denying them a place in the top half of the table.

Since joining Hamburg, Vuskovic has established himself as one of the most promising young players in Europe, earning great praise from the likes of Lothar Matthaus, Vincent Kompany, and Luka Modric. The teenager has reportedly attracted interest from some top clubs, so Roberto De Zerbi will have to fight to keep him in the summer.

Fortunately for the new Spurs boss, his contract in north London doesn't expire until June 2030. In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Vuskovic provided an update on his future.

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The Croatia international has claimed it would be a 'dream' to play with his brother, Mario, at either Hamburg or their boyhood club, Hajduk Split. Mario was issued a four-year ban from football in November 2022 for a doping offence.

The Tottenham wonderkid said: "In football, you never know. It could happen next year, or in ten years. I don't want to promise anyone anything.

"But it's my biggest dream to be on the pitch with him here in Hamburg, or later in Split. After this season, I'll be a Tottenham player again. I have a contract there until 2030."

Mario was playing for Hamburg in the second division of German football at the time of the suspension. The Spurs loanee continued: "I was in Split, Croatia. It was a shock for all of us in the family; we couldn't believe it, and we still can't.

"We tried to get to the bottom of it. I can't say too much about it; I'd probably use harsh words, and I don't want to."

On why he decided to join Hamburg on loan, Vuskovic said: "The people here at the club have always stood behind my brother; they did everything they could. Everyone here—the fans, the coaches, the players—showed him so much love and respect.

"That's why I'm here. I wanted to give something back to this club and help them. Coming here was the easiest decision I've ever made. What happened to Mario has nothing to do with HSV."

Vuskovic wears his brother's shirt number, 44. He said: "I wanted his name to stay, even though he can't be here right now. But he'll be back on the pitch soon."

The Croatia international added: "Mario will come back stronger than he left. For three and a half years, he's been training every day for about four or five hours. I don't know anyone with his kind of willpower.

"Mario trains every day as if he has a game against Real Madrid the next day. I think what unfortunately happened to him will help him in a way.

"Physically, he'll be more than ready when his suspension is over. And he's had the opportunity to work on his mental strength. I think not much will be able to stop him when he's back on the pitch."

Roberto De Zerbi will need to make an instant impact at Tottenham to save the club from relegation

Roberto De Zerbi was credited with making an immediate impact at Brighton in a boost to hopes he can steer Tottenham Hotspur clear of the drop.

The Italian signed a five-year deal at the north London club earlier this week to replace Igor Tudor, with Spurs at the centre of a relegation dog-fight with just seven Premier League games to go this season.

With Spurs sitting 17th in the table and just one point and one place ahead of West Ham, De Zerbi has been instructed to introduce a new lease of life within the struggling squad - and time is not on his side.

But if Danny Welbeck's words are anything to go by, De Zerbi is capable of quickly implementing fresh energy and perspective, having done just that during his time at Brighton. The Seagulls striker previously opened up about the beginning of the Italian's reign at the club and revealed he was instantly impressive.

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The ex-Manchester United and Arsenal forward told ESPN: "Straight away from day one he's been impressive with his charisma and his passion for the game. "He's got an eye for fine detail, with every single pass and movement.

"He's really improved a lot of players - he gives everybody the opportunity to get on the pitch and show what they can do. He's had a huge impact. It's not easy as we had a good manager before (Graham Potter).

"But Roberto's been unbelievable with the lads, with the dressing room and everybody around the club -- his charisma and passion -- you only get to see 20 percent of what we see. We see it in everything he does: it's a joy to be working for this manager right now."

Without a league win since defeating Crystal Palace 1-0 in December, De Zerbi's first opportunity to put Spurs on a path away from potential relegation is against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next Sunday.

The 46-year-old revealed his short-term and long-term ambitions at Tottenham upon the news of his arrival. He said: "I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.

"In all my discussions with the club's leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters.

"I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it. Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season. I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that."

Here are the five things we spotted during the new Tottenham head coach's first training session at Hotspur Way on Friday

Roberto De Zerbi got to work on the Hotspur Way training pitches after meeting his Tottenham players for the first time on Friday.

The Italian agreed a five-year deal with Spurs this week and is looking to save them from relegation from the Premier League before building a better version of the team from next season onwards. With his work permit secured, De Zerbi was able to begin getting his philosophy across to his players at the Enfield training complex on Friday.

The new head coach has nine days to get his ideas into the team ahead of their return to Premier League action on April 12 at Sunderland before De Zerbi's old team Brighton come to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 18.

football.london understands that the Spurs players went home with rave reviews of the 46-year-old's first day of training, one at the session telling close friends that it was "outstanding" and numerous others bringing glowing reports back about the level of the work.

Here are five things we noticed from the club's extended video of the outdoor work between De Zerbi and his Tottenham players.

What they did

After putting in some gym work, De Zerbi took a mixture of first teamers and a sprinkling of academy players out on the grass at Hotspur Way.

While none of his new coaching staff were on show in the video, the Italian was in the middle of everything as a noisy presence, giving feedback and coaching instructions throughout the session which comprised of a physical warm-up, passing rondos, an end-to-end possession drill and finally a competitive six-a-side match with three teams.

Who he paid attention to

Obviously we only saw a snapshot of the session but while coming out on to the pitches in Enfield, De Zerbi made a point of heading over to Lucas Bergvall, putting an arm around the young Swede and having a prolonged chat with him at different parts of the pitch.

The new Spurs boss also had a chat with Mathys Tel in one moment during a rondo, which seemed to be about where to look and move his head before passing or turning.

To complete the trio of 20-year-olds, the name 'Archie' was rarely far from De Zerbi's lips as he spoke on the pitch and constantly namechecked Archie Gray.

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What De Zerbi said

You could hear snippets of what De Zerbi was telling his players and it all pointed towards what his version of Tottenham Hotspur will eventually be.

During one rondo he said: "One or two touch. With two touch it is impossible to lose the ball because we are five to pass against two. Enjoy, enjoy but you have to move. Enjoy with the ball.

"A lot of teams now they come man to man. Man to man you need to pass the ball. It's important, one touch, two touch."

What he said later will terrify some Spurs fans who don't like their team playing out from the back under pressure but it will unlock a Tottenham team that has looked scared to play football this season, under a new head coach whose whole philosophy is about baiting the press.

"Keep the ball, keep the ball. Attract the pressure. Attract the pressure," said the Italian. "The speed of the ball possession, the opponent decides our speed. When they are coming in front, we need to be faster in moving the ball, giving angles, giving solutions."

Assist for Richarlison

De Zerbi used to be a number 10 as a player back in Serie A and he showed a lovely touch when restarting one of the six-a-side matches with a pinpoint dragged backheel into the part of Richarlison who buried his shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

With complaints from the other team, the head coach said loudly: "Hey I'm the same with anybody!"

With his next restart he made sure there was no favouritism by booting the ball high up into the air. Richarlison ran in to challenge for it but it was Joao Palhinha who won the ball and headed it to Tel and the young Frenchman arrowed a shot into the net to win the game for his side.

Missing players

We can only go on what we were shown in the training video and photos from Friday's session but out on the pitches there appeared to be no sign of captain Cristian Romero, who was one of the last back from international duty so may have been recovering after his journey back across the world.

Pape Matar Sarr missed Senegal's second game with a shoulder problem and could not be spotted and neither could Pedro Porro after his international duty with Spain.

There were no returning players from injury on show in the footage of training as of yet, including Guglielmo Vicario as he recovers from his hernia surgery.

De Zerbi will be hoping he gets some of those in the treatment room back into full training before the trip to Sunderland next weekend.

Tottenham stars trained under Roberto De Zerbi for the first time on Friday with a key player featuring after injury concerns

Roberto De Zerbi has been handed an injury boost on his first day working with Tottenham's players as Mathys Tel was spotted in Friday's session. The 20-year-old limped off during the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and later withdrew from international duty with France under-21s.

Tel has been a bright spark during a dismal last few weeks and it was therefore a worrying sight to see him hobble off last month with an injury statement confirming that he would not be heading out over the domestic pause causing further concern.

However, those worries have eased with Tel spotted in the short clip uploaded to Tottenham's social channels of De Zerbi's first training session at Hotspur Way. The club's new head coach will work with the group for the next seven days before his debut in the dugout next Sunday away to Sunderland.

Conor Gallagher, Lucas Bergvall and Joao Palhinha have also overcome injuries recently which saw them involved in De Zerbi's high-octane session. From the 73-second clip uploaded to X, a possession drill was being coached by De Zerbi with the Italian heavily involved in the action.

Despite the return of Tel, in addition to Gallagher, Bergvall and Palhinha being back, De Zerbi has numerous injuries to contend with and that tally actually increased over the international break as Pape Sarr picked up a shoulder problem playing for Senegal.

He was also not clearly spotted in any of the clips or photos that emerged from Friday's session on the grass. There are also concerns over whether Guglielmo Vicario will be given the all clear following his hernia surgery.

There is hope that Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur will be back involved having started individual work outside last month. Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma are others pushing to return in April.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are Spurs' two long-term absentees who are working to return before the end of the current campaign. Wilson Odobert however, is not expected back until late 2026 because of a serious knee injury.

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The Lilywhites could really do with some of those players being back over the next few weeks given their immediate risk of Premier League relegation.

During his first interview in charge, De Zerbi fronted that issue and made his thoughts perfectly clear on the squad he is now working with.

He said: "I'm very happy and very proud to be here. I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world, so I'm very happy. I have a big responsibility, but it's a big challenge for me, and I'm looking forward to start and to work with the players and to win some games.

"I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many, many games per week. I know everything.

"I know it's a tough moment for Tottenham, but I know very well it's a tough moment. It's a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham. I think we have the right qualities to come out of this moment.

"I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and qualities. They have to show what they are and what they are good at playing.

Liam Rosenior has suggested that Chelsea could go back to basics when the summer transfer window opens.

William Gallas has urged Liam Rosenior not to sign Cristian Romero as part of Chelsea's revised recruitment strategy.

Speaking to reporters at Cobham on Friday morning, the Blues boss suggested that higher-ups at Stamford Bridge could shift the focus from the acquisition of exciting prospects to that of more experienced profiles. In fact, football.london understand Chelsea will look to sign Premier League-proven players in the upcoming transfer window.

The west Londoners are expected to splash the cash again, with a centre-back and a midfielder on the agenda. When quizzed on Chelsea's plan for the summer, Rosenior said: "Bringing players with emotional stability.

"Bringing good characters in who, in difficult moments, can understand what it takes to win in those difficult moments. We've had great conversations. I've had conversations with the ownership, with [the sporting] directors about what we want to do in the summer.

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"And we've also had conversations with certain players in the group as well who are really, really happy with the direction that we're going to go in. And before that, we need to make sure that we challenge for the Champions League, get into the Champions League, and hopefully win the FA Cup."

As it stands, it remains unclear exactly which Premier League-proven players Chelsea plan to target, but Gallas has urged Rosenior to steer clear of Romero. The 27-year-old defender faces a somewhat uncertain future in north London, with Tottenham Hotspur in grave danger of relegation from the Premier League.

Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, the Frenchman said: "Cristian Romero is a winner, but he could not be the new Thiago Silva at Chelsea. As a player and a captain, Christian Romero has a different style.

"What you need is one experienced player who can control every team, and when you play alongside Romero, I think a player might feel less secure, especially when you are young. You need players who won’t take a red card for a stupid foul.

"For me, Romero has to improve in this part because he puts his teams in trouble. Maybe Chelsea need to look for centre-backs who can bring you all these things to be calm and have that security to be a good captain at the back."

Instead, Gallas suggested that Chelsea should sign John Stones, whose contract at the Etihad Stadium expires in the summer. The former Blues and Arsenal defender said: "What does John Stones bring to Chelsea?

"Leadership experience and composure. He is calm. He can bring you everything. He looks like he can be the right guy to be the leader of the defence line at centre-back. I think Stones can be a good idea."

Although Stones could be available on a free transfer, he's struggled to stay fit this season. The England international has only featured 15 times across all competitions, missing a large chunk of the campaign due to a thigh injury.

Tottenham Hotspur have a new head coach at the helm and the Italian has had plenty of things said about him over recent years

Roberto De Zerbi has taken charge of Tottenham and he comes with plenty of praise from his peers after a rollercoaster managerial career so far.

The 46-year-old has been handed a big money five-year contract with the immediate task of saving Spurs from relegation, but also a view on the long-term with the Italian declaring that he will "be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what". De Zerbi has been at Marseille, Brighton and Shakhtar Donetsk in recent years after working his way up the ladder of Italian football before impressing at Sassuolo.

The new Tottenham head coach has brought beautiful football, emotion and fiery moments throughout his coaching career so far and has drawn praise from some of the best in the game for the unique way his sides play football.

Here are just some of the things people have said about De Zerbi over the years, starting with one of the Italian's biggest inspirations.

Pep Guardiola

"Roberto is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years," said Guardiola back in 2023 after Brighton qualified for Europe for the first time in their history.

"There is no team playing the way they play - it's unique. I had the feeling when he arrived the impact he would have in the Premier League would be great - I didn't expect him to do it in this short space of time.

"He creates 20 or 25 chances per game, better by far than most opponents. He monopolises the ball in a way it hasn't been for a long time. They deserve completely the success they have.

"Brighton is the master of when to pass to the free man. They move at the right time. They don't pass the ball until the opponent moves. If you don't play at a high level he can do whatever he wants against you. They are one of the teams I try to learn a lot from."

A couple of months later the Manchester City boss heaped more praise on the Italian.

"I think I admire him for the fact it doesn’t matter the team he plays. He proved you don’t have to be in a top, top, top club or with top, top exceptional players to make your team play how you like to play. He came from Italy, and the way he plays is a little counter-cultural, and it doesn’t matter what happens.

"He plays [with] Sassuolo and teams who may not be considered the top, top, top ones, it doesn’t matter, [we] have the ball, we are going to play, to play, to play. I’m a spectator mainly as a manager, and I enjoy a lot watching his teams play, I learn, like it, and what he does makes sense.

"It’s not a surprise the success his teams have because he is playing deservedly. Even when they lost to Villa, he plays his own style, it doesn’t matter transitions, deflections, Aston Villa, a top side this season for the quality they have with the manager and players, but they do [play], it doesn’t matter."

Arne Slot

Ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash with Marseille this season, Arne Slot spoke about the Italian.

"I see him as one of the best coaches in the world. In my opinion, you shouldn’t always be judged by the number of trophies you win, but also by the way your teams play," said the Dutchman

"I think he already coaches a big team because Marseille are a big club right now, and historically as well. I’m not the one who recruits coaches, but if I were, he would certainly be very high on my list for a big club. "I’ve always liked his teams, I’ve always liked watching his teams play. When he was at Brighton, I saw more of his work because I watch the Premier League more than Ligue 1, but he’s a very good coach. "It’s not fair to judge coaches only on what they win. You also have to look at the style of play and how players develop. And that’s what you see with him – players progress well, and sometimes they stop developing as well once he’s no longer there."

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Luis Enrique

Ahead of facing De Zerbi's Marseille one of their many meetings in Ligue 1 said, the PSG boss Luis Enrique said: "De Zerbi is a great coach that I like. He’s one of the best coaches in the league. He’s still young, and tonight’s match isn’t going to make me change my mind."

On another occasion he said: "I like De Zerbi's mentality. His team commands on the pitch. He will fight for possession and press high, with one-on-one situations. The match is not only emotional, but also tactical. We will have to press properly. Above all, I hope we can win and have a great football festival."

Jurgen Klopp

Ahead of meeting Brighton in the Premier League, the then Liverpool boss Klopp said of De Zerbi: "We know how difficult it is against Brighton. Roberto is doing an incredible job there, it's a different game against Brighton.

"We were the first opponents when Roberto arrived and we had no idea what to expect. It was quite impressive how quick he got the team playing in his way. Since then it only got better."

He added: "It's about having possession, we need to have more possession than in recent games against them. It's not a normal pressing game, it goes against our rhythm so we have to break their rhythm," Klopp added.

"The way they play, I couldn't coach that. It goes against my personality, but it's a good watch. It's very demanding on the players... On their day, they can beat any team. But the good news is we can do that as well."

Medhi Benatia

Marseille's head of football and former Juventus defender Benatia spoke about De Zerbi last summer.

"His passion is overflowing. You should see how he prepares matches. There's a touch of Pep Guardiola in him, but trust me, he's unique. He breathes football and he breathes life. In that order," he said.

"We talk until 2am, often on video calls because the coach wants to see people face-to-face. At any hour. Working with him is just exciting and stimulating; he lives for football, just like me."

Joao Pedro

Now at Chelsea, Joao Pedro was immediately wowed by De Zerbi after signing for Brighton back in 2023.

"It's the first time I've trained with a coach like him," he said. "He is, for me, in the top three in the world. Because of how he thinks about football, how he looks at it. I've never seen a coach who coaches like him. He pushes us, in the best way. He helps us a lot.

"When my agent called me about Brighton I was very happy because they play really well, they play football and that was why I came here How he [De Zerbi] plays is very different from Watford. That was more long ball and counter-attack. Here we think more about playing with the ball and moving at the right time so it's very good for us.

"I like how he helps us and the way he wants us to play. I'm ready to learn more and to help my team-mates. He told me to think about enjoying myself and scoring goals, so that was very simple."

Tony Bloom

The Brighton chairman said of De Zerbi during his second season at the Seagulls: "He has been pretty amazing. His track record, when we looked into it in a lot of detail, was exceptionally good.

"But I didn't quite realise the impact he would have when he came in. He has been hugely influential for so many players. He is so good at improving them.

"The quality of the play and the risk taking at the right times to create opportunities for the players to create chances and his tactical abilities are superb.

"He pushes everyone to go as far as they can. We are very fortunate to have him at the club. We love having him here. Long may that continue."

Adam Lallana

When the former Brighton man was asked if De Zerbi will keep Spurs up, he said: "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.

"I always compared him with Jurgen [Klopp], 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.

"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."

Lewis Dunk

Speaking in 2023, Brighton star Dunk revealed how difficult the adjustment was when De Zerbi came in following Graham Potter's exit. “If I am being honest, the first couple of weeks were horrendous…" Dunk told the Telegraph.

"I wouldn’t say horrendous, they were baffling. The first meeting when he went in, I was so confused – who to look at, what to listen to, and you slowly pick up. Basically don’t listen to the manager, wait for the translator to speak and you get there in the end.

"Training changed dramatically. We worked on a lot of different stuff and the first couple of weeks were a really hard transition. We were fourth in the league when Graham left and we were flying with him and it was a strange time for him to go and then Roberto came in and it was a carnage two weeks."

However, he added on what happened next: "I see football in a completely different way, I picture it in a different way and that is the biggest thing.

"Football is not what I thought it was. Just how we play now. The idea of what I did before, I thought it made sense. But when you learn something completely different, you believe in it and this makes sense. You think ‘why didn’t I know this?’ and ‘why didn’t I do this before?’

“The style of play, really. And when to release the ball. All our games now are about pressure, playing with opposition teams when they’re pressing high and pressing low. When to pass the ball, the timing of that and the timing of movement. Before, I didn’t really know about that. It’s all about the finer details."

Sandro

The former Spurs midfielder captained De Zerbi's Benevento side back in 2018 and served a coaching internship at Brighton with the Italian during his previous period in the Premier League.

"To be fair, I always thought Roberto would be a manager for us. When I met him and when I played for him in Italy, because I like Tottenham, straight away I thought this would be the manager to put Tottenham at the highest level. I’m so, so happy because this came true and he’s here now," said Sandro said in an interview with Spurs.

"It’s a huge moment for us, an important moment for us and he’s the right one to be there for me, no doubt. I wish him the best of luck, I will support the team as always and with him, it’s a pleasure to watch and see what he does. You guys will love him, he suits us with his style of play, he’s got passion, vision and intelligence. I am becoming a manager now because of him, because of what he did with me in Benevento. In that moment, I said I want to be a manager because I really trust in the work this guy does. He is so passionate and I’m so excited to see him at Spurs – it’s a great feeling!”

The Brazilian went on: "He gave us – the players – everything that we needed for the game. Each game is different and the way he approached each game was amazing. The players need to trust in him, and I will say that they will trust him because they will see the results of his work. In my first game with him, I felt that the game was easier because I knew everything that was coming, because we did it in training. It’s amazing – his strength is to give the players what the game needs. He gives that every day in the training sessions. With De Zerbi, five minutes in a training session matters because he wants every minute to be important. For him, he will use these five minutes with reason – everything matters.”

He added: "“He’s got energy, he’s got passion. I was his captain and we were talking every day about football. You don’t have to be afraid. He is very intense – I will say that – and the players will need to be prepared because he will demand focus in the training sessions, he will ask everybody to be ready but this is nice, this is what we love as players, to work with someone who pushes us upwards and teaches us, so I’m very excited to see him work at Spurs.

"At Benevento, he joined just before the winter. He called me to sign – I was one of his first ideas – and although he was very young and it was one of the first jobs that he got, I was 29 years old and he improved me, made me come to every single session with excitement. I told him this and said ‘you are one of the best managers’. He laughed at me, but it was true."

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for a highly-rated forward in the summer transfer window

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with highly-rated striker Marcos Leonardo ahead of the summer transfer window. The young Brazilian has been in prolifc form for Al-Hilal this season and has experience of European football.

Spurs’ immediate priority is securing Premier League survival as the club sit just one point above the relegation zone. Tottenham announced the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi on a long-term contract.

The new coach has seven games to help the club keep their top-flight status. However, the summer window is approaching and De Zerbi could play a role in recruitment, having signed a five-year deal.

Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte claims that Spurs have been following the Al-Hilal star Leonardo's performances for months. It is said that Tottenham are closely monitoring his situation at the Saudi Arabian club, where he has scored 15 goals in 29 games this term.

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The report adds that Al-Hilal are open to selling the forward in the upcoming transfer window. The 22-year-old is valued at £55million, which would represent a significant profit from the approximate £34m paid to Benfica in 2024.

Tottenham are reported to be one of several European clubs interested in former Brazil U20 international Leonardo. He has scored 44 goals in 72 games overall for the Saudi Pro League side.

Leonardo began his career with Brazilian giants Santos, making his debut as a 17-year-old in August 2020. The striker scored 54 goals in 168 games for his boyhood club, prompting a move to Benfica in January 2024.

The Portuguese side paid around £15m for the young attacker and set his release clause at £130m. He scored consecutively in his first three appearances but struggled to earn a starting spot during his short stint before sealing a move to Al-Hilal that summer.

New Spurs boss De Zerbi may opt to bring in more attacking options during his first transfer window at the helm. The club’s current top scorer is Leonardo’s compatriot Richarison with 10 goals in all competitions.

The Italian head coach will take charge of his first match against Sunderland on April 12. Tottenham’s earlier exits from cup competitions will offer the manager more time to assess his squad in training.

In his first interview since being appointed, De Zerbi said of becoming Spurs boss: "I'm very happy and very proud to be here. I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world, so I'm very happy.

"I have a big responsibility, but it's a big challenge for me, and I'm looking forward to start and to work with the players and to win some games. I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many, many games per week. I know everything.

"I know it's a tough moment for Tottenham, but I know very well it's a tough moment. It's a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham. I think we have the right qualities to come out of this moment. I believe in the players.

"I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and qualities. They have to show what they are and what they are good at playing."

The new Tottenham boss has a reputation for working with technically gifted young players and he will find some at the north London club

Roberto De Zerbi has declared that whatever happens in the coming seven matches he will be the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur next season and that means opportunities for the club's young players.

Whenever a new manager is appointed it means a fresh set of eyes looking at those young players who come up to train with the first team. Almost every season without fail someone new from the academy or a young recent arrival gets a chance as the new boss wants to show they give a chance to the youth.

Despite all of their injuries to senior players this season, Tottenham have handed out the fifth fewest minutes to academy graduates in the Premier League with just 26. The next team above them are Everton who have dished out 499, while Chelsea and Manchester City have given 5,673 and 5,162 minutes to academy players respectively, discarding any myth that it's not possible at bigger clubs.

Spurs have handed four academy graduates appearances in the Premier League this season, which is among the better numbers in the competition, but it's just been a handful of minutes.

In De Zerbi the north London outfit now have a manager who will not fear throwing in young players if he believes they are good enough and he will be here next season regardless of the league they will play in.

"I signed five years of contract because for me it is a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what," said the Italian.

So which young players could flourish under De Zerbi next season, regardless of what league Tottenham find themselves in? We're sticking to teenagers here and leaving out first team players like Souza. The age limit means we'll only mention in passing older academy products like Alfie Devine, Will Lankshear and Jamie Donley who could yet catch the eye in pre-season after their loan seasons in the Championship.

Here are the young players who could get their chance in the coming 12 months at Spurs.

Luka Vuskovic

Everyone is talking about Luka Vuskovic across Europe and the young centre-back been linked with the biggest clubs in the world after an eye-catching season at Hamburg in the Bundesliga.

It's crazy to think that Spurs signed the now 19-year-old all the way back in 2023 but the Croatia international is yet to make a competitive first team appearance for the club.

Vuskovic has a contract until 2030 and Tottenham would be utterly stupid to sell him this summer despite the interest. He's got talent in abundance and while his acceleration needs to be worked on - which he is remedying with a specialist trainer - the amount of stars like Luka Modric who have declared just how good he is going to be only shows that Spurs must make him the cornerstone of their defence for the long-term future.

His ability on the ball and his goalscoring prowess at the other end of the pitch should quickly catch the eye of De Zerbi.

If the worst was to happen and Tottenham were to go down then it would probably be worth giving the youngster another loan season either at Hamburg to play with his brother Mario or elsewhere to continue his top flight education.

Mikey Moore

Another player who has flourished out on loan away from the chaos at Tottenham is Mikey Moore. The 18-year-old overcame a tough start to life at Rangers and has adapted to become a fans' favourite amid the pressure and attention of playing for one of the big Glasgow clubs.

Some Tottenham supporters wanted him recalled in the winter window, but he could not have had a better development season in his career with the highs and lows at Ibrox as well as European football.

He has already made 21 appearances for Spurs despite his age, scoring once with two assists, and that was before this big season in Scotland.

Moore has all the tools in his locker to become a star under De Zerbi as he can play either as a winger or a number 10 in the Italian's system and on either flank and this will be a big pre-season for him.

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Luca Williams-Barnett

The one to watch in the academy right now, but 17-year-old Williams-Barnett has missed out in recent weeks through injury at a time when he probably would have got some minutes.

The versatile attacking midfielder can play anywhere up front and has dazzling dribbling skills, a creative eye for a pass and the ability to finish. He made his Spurs debut in the Carabao Cup this season against Doncaster Rovers with a bright little cameo and has managed 16 goals and eight assists in 19 academy games around that, mainly while stepping up for the U21s.

He's expected back in full training next week and De Zerbi, a former number 10 himself, will get a little look at the youngster ahead of a summer when if Williams-Barnett keeps working hard then he could well head off on the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. Those tours are crucial for new head coaches to get a good look at the next stars off the production line within a club.

Jun'ai Byfield

Another who has missed out on appearances in recent weeks because of injury but this has been a big breakthrough season for 17-year-old centre-back Jun'ai Byfield.

The England U18 international has made two Champions League appearances, his first a half an hour one against Dortmund, and he was trusted with his Premier League debut in the final minutes of the draw against Manchester City in February. Byfield impressed with his maturity in both games and many inside the club believe he will get further chances to catch the eye in a Spurs shirt.

He is gradually increasing his training load after his absence with the hope that he will also be back in full training next week.

Calum Olusesi

Olusesi, who turned 19 last month, enjoyed a great March as he first got his Premier League debut with a very composed 20 minutes or so at Anfield to help Spurs draw with Liverpool. Then just a few days later that was followed up with his first Champions League appearance against Atletico Madrid with 15 minutes from the bench.

The teenager took full advantage of the absence of fit midfielders to make his mark. The return of many of those senior players means he may not get more opportunities this season but has a chance to stake his claim in the summer if he is not sent out on a loan, which like Moore, could be equally beneficial to his career.

Mason Melia

A player the Spurs fans are yet to see as the club fended off competition from top Premier League and European clubs to agree a deal worth an initial £1.6million with St Patrick's Athletic for the striker in February last year.

Melia, who put pen to paper last year on a long-term contract until 2031, was not allowed by EU law to make the move to the Premier League club until he turned 18, which meant he had to wait until January this year to complete the switch. On top of that, the teenager arrived with a back injury and just as he was set to return he picked up a chest infection that further delayed his attempts to get to work.

Now the teenager is back in full training and with 98 senior matches for St Pat's and a strong physique, he is expected to quickly catch the eye of first team staff.

Tynan Thompson

Another who has struggled with injury in recent weeks but 17-year-old left winger Tynan Thompson is a real livewire. Spurs are hoping to tie up his longer term future at the club but likewise he will also want to get opportunities ahead.

The flying attacker has been on the bench twice in the Champions League and once in the Carabao Cup and has stepped up hugely at youth level with his performances in the UEFA Youth League a particular highlight with seven goals and two assists from Tottenham's seven matches in Europe.

Spurs are always looking for left wingers and they have a talented one coming through in Thompson. Both and he and Moore could be the future for the club down that flank if they both continue their current trajectory.

Others who could shine

Every young player develops in different stages so plenty of other teenagers within the club could catch the eye of De Zerbi either in the coming months or in the summer during pre-season if they get the invite into first team training.

Striker James Wilson arrived from Hearts in the winter window and has already been involved in the first team set-up. Tye Hall has had a big season in midfield captaining the U18s and got the call to join in with England senior training at Wembley last week.

Defender James Rowswell made his Tottenham debut in the final moments of the draw at Anfield and dealt with a last-gasp Liverpool counter-attack well. The talented England U19 international Malachi Hardy is also continuing his development as a centre-back within the club.

Others will step up from the club's U18s next season looking to impress at U21 level and De Zerbi and his staff will be keeping an eye on all of them.

A former Spurs star has lifted the lid on what it's like playing under Tottenham's new boss Roberto De Zerbi

Former Spurs star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has given a glowing review of new Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Hojbjerg left north London permanently last summer after an initial season on loan at Marseille, where he linked up with the Italian coach. The former Brighton boss had taken the reins in the summer of 2024.

He left the French giants in February by mutual consent following a 5-0 drubbing by Paris St-Germain and a Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge. Hojbjerg was a mainstay in De Zerbi's midfield throughout the 46-year-old's spell at the helm.

Speaking back in November 2025 to Onze Mondial, the Danish star eulogised over his now former boss, and his words will no doubt stoke the flames of excitement in Spurs fans. “I’ve been lucky enough to have coaches like [Pep] Guardiola, José Mourinho, and Antonio Conte. And I put Roberto De Zerbi in the same category," he said.

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"Over the next 20 years, coach De Zerbi is going to contribute enormously to football. And for me, it’s an honour to work with him. The coach… I don’t know how to explain it. He has a connection with the dressing room, he has an emotional relationship with the dressing room, Mourinho had the same thing.

"Roberto De Zerbi has a feel for the dressing room, he understands the atmosphere, he grasps the behaviours, he knows in advance what’s going to happen the next day… (he pauses). Okay, I’ll stop there, otherwise I’ll end up saying too many wonderful things (smiles). It’s an honour to work with such a coach, in any case.”

Hojbjerg's words echo those of Brighton defender Lewis Dunk. The centre-back also spoke glowingly of De Zerbi, suggesting he has changed the way he looks at the game, no doubt whetting Spurs fans' appetites over what's to come.

"I see football in a completely different way, I picture it in a different way and that is the biggest thing," Dunk said in 2023. "Football is not what I thought it was. Just how we play now. The idea of what I did before, I thought it made sense.

"But when you learn something completely different, you believe in it and this makes sense. You think, 'Why didn't I know this?' And, 'Why didn't I do this before?' The style of play, really. Before, I didn't really know about that. It's all about the finer details."

It was reported that De Zerbi wanted to hold off taking the Spurs job until the summer. However, he was convinced to sign on immediately during negotiations with the club hierarchy.

He has now become one of the Premier League's highest-paid managers thanks to a lucrative five-year deal. Fears that the Italian might leave should Spurs face the drop this season have also been quelled by the new head coach.

"I signed five years of contract because, for me, it is a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what," De Zerbi said upon his announcement.

"Tottenham, especially in this moment, is maybe the the most important challenge in my career - I'm ready to start this challenge. It's a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham but I think we have the right qualities to come out of this moment."