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Ex-Tottenham star 'fell in love with Roberto De Zerbi in a week' as new boss talked up

Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed Tottenham's new manager on a five-year contract, and one former Spurs player is a big fan of the Italian from their time together at Benevento

Ex-Tottenham star Sandro has hailed Roberto De Zerbi as the best manager he's ever worked under - and only needed a week to be convinced. De Zerbi, 46, was announced Spurs' new boss on Tuesday after signing a five-year contract.

The Italian has become the club's third manager this season after the departures of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor. Their collective struggles have resulted in Tottenham battling relegation.

Spurs are languishing 17th in the Premier League table, just one point above West Ham, with seven games left to play. But Sandro is likely to a fan of their decision to appoint De Zerbi, who he worked under at then-Serie A side Benevento.

Back in 2023, the former Tottenham midfielder was asked by talkSPORT who the best manager he played under was. "De Zerbi, 100 per cent," Sandro replied.

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

Although Benevento finished rock bottom and were relegated, Sandro reckons that De Zerbi improved them after arriving in the October of that season. "He's a manager who wants to have the ball all the time," the ex-Brazil international later told BBC Sport.

"A very intelligent and very particular manager who thinks a lot about the game. He helps players and gives them the details they need to hurt the opponent.

"Benevento were in a very bad situation, but De Zerbi picked some players to try to improve the team and I was part of that. I didn't know that I was going to meet one of the best coaches that I've had.

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"It was amazing because I learned a lot from him, and I really enjoyed playing for him. I saw great things. When I arrived there, I was already an experienced player and I'd seen so many coaches.

"He made me come to games with fire, like 'what's he going to teach us today? What are we going to do?' You must be good to do that. I wanted more. I wanted to play for him."

After leaving Benevento following their relegation, De Zerbi went on to spend three years at Sassuolo before spells with Shakhtar Donetsk, Brighton and Marseille. His first game in charge of Tottenham will be away to Sunderland on Sunday, April 12.

Tottenham are in advanced talks with the former Brighton boss over taking iver from Igor Tudor on a permanent basis.

Tottenham have reportedly given Roberto De Zerbi a two-day deadline over the managerial role. The Italian has emerged as a front-runner to take over from Igor Tudor as Spurs look to avoid relegation.

Tudor left the club by mutual consent on Sunday, after failing to win any of his five Premier League games in charge of the club. The Croatian came in on an interim basis to replace Thomas Frank, but Spurs have sunk further into relegation trouble since his arrival.

The team currently sit in 17th position in the table, just one point clear of the bottom three. The club aim to bring a new manager in before players return from international duty. De Zerbi is in advanced talks over the role.

The former Brighton boss was initially unwilling to take the job until the summer, but he is now open to taking over immediately in a permanent role.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham has handed an ‘ultimatum’ to De Zerbi during the negotiations. The report says that the Italian has been given 24-48 hours to provide a final answer to their offer.

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The report adds that ‘until yesterday, the answer was always no’, but adds that ‘things have changed now’. De Zerbi is said to be considering the offer and the head start that joining now could give him if he saves Spurs from relegation.

Should the 46-year-old join Tottenham, his first game in charge would come on Sunday, April 12, when Spurs take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (2pm kick-off).

Before that game, the side could find themselves sitting in the relegation zone with 18th-placed West Ham hosting Wolves at the London Stadium.

A win for the Hammers would see them climb above Tottenham and plunge Spurs into the bottom three. Tottenham would, however, have a game in hand over their relegation rivals.

A potential appointment of De Zerbi comes just a matter of hours after three Tottenham supporters groups released statements against the move.

The opposition is due to the manager’s comments on Mason Greenwood, whom he managed at Marseille.

Tottenham considering ex-England boss who hasn't worked for 20 years as next manager

Tottenham have already launched a search for their third manager of the season and a former club icon could potentially be among the contenders to take the reins for the rest of the season

Former Tottenham star Glenn Hoddle is among the contenders to be appointed by the North London club following the exit of Igor Tudor. The Croatian departed the club this week following a disastrous 44-day spell at the helm.

With Spurs firmly in the relegation mire, they are now looking for their next manager. And former midfielder Hoddle is on the list.

According to Mail Online, Spurs have been exploring potential options over the past week as they search for another short-term option as they bide their time until the summer. Hoddle has deep knowledge of the North London club, having made his name there as a player.

He also managed the club for two-and-a-half years, having been appointed in March 2001. Hoddle has not actually been in management since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2006 - nearly 20 years ago.

But asked if he would be open to returning, he suggested he would be happy to help. He said: “I think I would, actually. Particularly with Tottenham, as that’s my club. I’ve supported them since I was eight years of age. So they were a massive part of my life."

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Meanwhile, Hoddle also suggested that former striker Robbie Keane would be an ideal candidate. He added: “Robbie’s doing great as a young manager.

"So to have a steady springboard and someone experienced like myself would be a good formula, in many ways. I think it’d be a shrewd move to have somebody, whether it was me or somebody experienced with him."

Joe Cole and Peter Crouch claimed recently that Spurs needed someone with an understanding of the club. The former said: "I said at the start, this is absolutely nailed on for someone like a Robbie Keane. Someone who has gone and proven himself - a club legend, or Glenn Hoddle, Harry Redknapp, someone with a bit of experience.

Crouch added: "At least with that, the crowd are buzzing, what you have done, you’ve galvanised it, everyone is behind you. They are willing you to do well, and even if it ultimately doesn’t work, at least the crowd have been lifted, and you feel like you have got that 12th man when trying to get out of it."

Spurs currently sit 17th in the Premier League table and just one point clear of the relegation zone. Their next game pits them against Sunderland in a fortnight’s time.

Tottenham Hotspur are spending their international break looking for another new manager and Adi Hutter has issued a statement in the wake of Igor Tudor's exit

Tottenham Hotspur have been told by Adi Hutter he is not interested in replacing Igor Tudor this season. The Austrian reportedly held discussions with Spurs about the possibility of taking over, according to French media.

Tudor's exit from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was officially announced by the club on Sunday. Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange are now in a rush to find their next manager, with coach Bruno Saltor believed to be overseeing training sessions for the coming days.

However, it now looks like the Spurs chiefs have lost one of their main contenders. The Austrian has made it clear he won't be managing any team until at least this summer.

In a statement released to Austrian press, he said: "In recent days and weeks, I have been increasingly linked with various clubs.

"However, as I already stated immediately after my time at Monaco, I would prefer not to work as a head coach again until the start of the new season at the earliest. My position on this matter has not changed since then."

This is a big blow for Venkatesham and Lange. Hutter boasts an impressive track record in the Bundesliga and is currently without a club, having left Monaco in October last year. Tottenham have also been heavily linked with Roberto De Zerbi, who is likewise a free agent after leaving Marseille in February

However, the Italian's backing of ex-Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, who joined Marseille and featured under the former Brighton and Hove Albion manager around a year after after the ex-England international saw charges of one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm be dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, has led to supporter groups opposing the potential appointment.

The speculation surrounding De Zerbi was criticised by fan organisations Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach. In a statement, Women of the Lane wrote: "We want to be clear about how this (speculation) is landing with many women and allies in our community.

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"De Zerbi has publicly defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of male violence against women and girls. That raises serious questions about judgement and leadership. This is not an appointment Tottenham Hotspur should make."

Alongside De Zerbi and Hutter, former Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been identified as a possible successor. Ryan Mason has also been mentioned for a third stint as caretaker manager, but the ex-Spurs midfielder has just endured a disappointing period in charge at West Brom.

Former Spurs striker Robbie Keane, who currently manages Hungarian giants Ferencvaros, has also been identified as a possible successor, just as he was when Thomas Frank was dismissed. The main advantage for the Tottenham board is that there remains sufficient time to secure an appointment.

Tottenham don't play again until April 12, when they face Sunderland away from home. Spurs are aiming to have a new manager installed before their international players rejoin the squad from their respective nations.

Former England and Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has been appointed as manager of National League side Woking in a surprise move.

A statement from the non-league club read: "Woking Football Club is pleased to confirm the appointment of Jermain Defoe as the club’s new Manager.

"Defoe joins the club following a distinguished playing career at the highest levels of the game and has built coaching experience through his work within the academy structure at Tottenham Hotspur and in a player-coach role at Rangers FC as part of Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff.

"Following a detailed recruitment process, the club identified Defoe as the candidate whose values, leadership style and footballing philosophy best aligned with its long-term vision."

Club Chairman Todd Johnson said: “Jermain’s achievements as a player speak for themselves, but what stood out to us during the process was how he sees the game, how he drives standards, and his approach to leadership and player development.

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“We have a clear plan for where we want to go as a club, and we believe Jermain is the right person to build on the strong foundations already in place and help take us forward in the next phase of that journey.”

Meanwhile, Defoe added: “Woking is a historic club with huge potential, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting project. I can’t wait to get started.”

Defoe, 43, started his professional career with West Ham United and went on to have spells with Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Toronto FC, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Rangers across a near 25-year career.

In 763 club appearances, he scored 305 goals. Defoe also made 57 appearances for the England national team across 13 seasons, scoring on 20 occasions.

Defoe has actually had a brief foray into management in the past, having been part of an interim coaching team at former side Rangers back in 2021. But this is the first time that he has claimed the managerial reins for himself.

Woking currently sit 11th in the National League table on 53 points. Defoe will take part in an introductory press conference on Wednesday, April 1, with the current interim team of Craig Ross, Jake Hyde and Dale Gorman guiding the side for Tuesday's clash against Altrincham.

That means Defoe's managerial debut for the side will come next Friday with a home showdown against Eastleigh. After that, they will then have four games of the season to go, with a late push for promotion looking highly unlikely at this stage.

Roberto De Zerbi is the bookmakers' favourite to become the new Tottenham manager and Steven Gerrard has already praised the Italian's ability to develop young players

Steven Gerrard has indicated that Roberto De Zerbi would be a perfect managerial appointment for Tottenham in the wake of interim boss Igor Tudor's exit. The club announced they had reached a mutual agreement to part company with Tudor following a challenging period, with the Croatian securing victory in only one of his seven matches in charge.

Multiple candidates have already been mentioned in connection with the role, but the bookies' top pick is De Zerbi, who departed Marseille in February. It's believed the Italian has conducted private discussions with Spurs officials and could potentially be willing to assume control before the campaign concludes.

This would represent a change of heart from his earlier reported preference to take over at the season's end. The Italian is presently listed as the leading contender in the betting markets, while Mauricio Pochettino features as the second choice.

Nevertheless, a return for Pochettino seems improbable in the immediate future, as he is due to guide the United States at this summer's World Cup. Gerrard, for his part, has already expressed his views on De Zerbi, who managed Brighton between 2022 and 2024.

After Ethan Nwaneri's loan switch to Marseille from Arsenal, Gerrard proposed that working under De Zerbi can only aid the development of young players - something that would prove enormously advantageous for Spurs considering the quantity of rising stars within their squad. Spurs regard Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, Xavi Simons, Souza and Wilson Odobert as exciting prospects, and have splashed a combined £193million on the group, according to Transfer Markt.

Using Nwaneri as an example, Gerrard told TNT Sports: "I think Mikel Arteta has been extremely clever here because he's sending him to De Zerbi as well, who has got a track record for improving players, and he will give him the time and education and development and he'll get more game time playing for Marseille.

"If he gets, samples the league, samples the experiences, it's not going to do him any harm. He's a top talent, and now he's got to go and get experience and this will be great for him for the future.

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"Give him different experiences, go and test him in France. Test him around Europe and hopefully in six months or if he extends it then he comes back with more games under his belt and more experience and he's a better player. But without a doubt, De Zerbi will make him a better player."

Nwaneri's stint under De Zerbi, however, proved brief, with the Italian departing the French club after just 18 months at the helm. Yet it didn't take long for the youngster to sing the coach's praises. "Roberto De Zerbi is also one of the best coaches in the world," he said.

Beyond De Zerbi, names such as Sean Dyche, Adi Hutter, Marco Silva and Oliver Glasner have been touted for the position in north London. Mirror Football understands that Spurs are working quietly to bring in a new manager within days, allowing the incoming boss time to gel with the squad during the international break.

Tottenham announced on Sunday that they've parted ways with interim manager Igor Tudor, and now Spurs have begun the search for their fourth boss in less than a year

There has been a popular debate running among fans whether Tottenham being relegated would be a bigger story than Leicester City winning the title in 2016. Relegation would be unthinkable for Tottenham.

It seems impossible to imagine their £1billion world-class stadium welcoming Lincoln City in the Championship next season. And that is clearly why the Tottenham hierarchy have decided to roll the dice again and make another managerial change.

Ideally, they would have waited until the summer. But needs must. Igor Tudor has been a disaster from start to finish. The former Juventus boss was brought in to make an impact - but no-one expected it to be a negative one.

Incredibly, Tottenham have still yet to win a Premier League game in 2026 and, by the time of their next game at Sunderland on April 12, Spurs will be in the bottom three if West Ham beat Wolves two days earlier. The crisis is closing in.

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Tudor was in charge for seven games and did not manage a single victory in the Premier League. They won one game in the Champions League, managed one draw at Liverpool and suffered five defeats.

They are in serious danger of going down. It has only been heading one way under Tudor and only compassion - it was announced the former Croatia defender's father passed away after Tottenham's defeat to Nottingham Forest - stopped an announcement being made sooner. What is bizarre is that Tudor's last big job had been at Juventus.

Clearly, Spurs' former joint-sporting director Fabio Paratici, who had previously worked at Juventus, must have had a say which begs the question about the current regime's ability to make their own appointment. Agents and scouts have been distinctly unimpressed with Spurs' remaining sporting director Johan Lange who lacks experience, charisma and a track record of real note.

Even after the Tudor reign ended in him being ceremoniously dethroned, have been scouring the continent again amid a belief that it will be another risky appointment. They may turn to a fire fighting appointment to get them to safety and then look again in the summer.

Who should Tottenham appoint as their next manager? Let us know your pick in the comments section.

There has been lots written about Sean Dyche and he would provide experience and stability, but the former Forest and Everton boss is not interested in a short-term fix. Dyche until the end of the season is a non-starter.

They have looked at former Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi and Austrian coach Adi Hutter, who most recently managed Monaco, has also been linked with the job. Tottenham want to bring a new manager in the coming days so that he has time to work with the players ahead of that clash at Sunderland which already feels like it will be a defining fixture.

But the Spurs fans will rightly be questioning whether the next appointment will be any better than the last. Ange Postecoglou won the Europa League and got the sack for his trouble. His replacement Thomas Frank looked a good choice but his style was not embraced by the fans. However, you have to think of they had stuck with either they would not be in this mess now.

Suddenly, former chairman Daniel Levy, ousted back in September, does not seem so bad after all. The Lewis family took more responsibility but left the football decisions to Lange and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.

Frank did well to survive Tottenham's home defeat to West Ham on January 17. If there had been a suitable caretaker in the building then there was a feeling they would have made a change the next day.

Three days later, Tottenham faced Borussia Dortmund. There were several club legends at the game. The club hierarchy gathered a few together. There was a feeling that if they had lost, Ledley King - who worked under Jose Mourinho - might have been asked to take charge.

Instead, Tottenham won and Frank limped on until they lost to Newcastle and he got sacked which gave them 12 days to find a successor. Ultimately, they chose badly. Tudor arrived and one of the first things he did was organise a team bonding meal. But players were squabbling across the dinner table even then.

The squad is underperforming, it lacks leaders and quality. They certainly did not listen to Tudor's broken English team talks. The 47-year-old is short on words but tried to bring passion.

His first game in charge was against Arsenal in the North London derby. He tried to go man-to-man, use high press tactics and they were horribly undone. Surely it was asking for trouble. They lost 4-1. And it got worse from there. Tudor's handling of the keepers shocked players, caused unrest in the dressing room and backfired.

First-choice Guglielmo Vicario was dropped against Atletico Madrid, Antonin Kinsky came in and had a nightmare and was hooked after just 17 minutes. That just about summed up Tudor's disastrous reign.

They cannot get it wrong again. Or, as Mick McCarthy might say, they can. But unless the new manager can connect with the players and galvanise the toxic atmosphere at home games, they are only heading one way.

Tottenham Hotspur are on the lookout for their third manager of the season after Igor Tudor departed his role after a challenging and brief reign in North London

Roberto De Zerbi is the frontrunner to be appointed as the next Tottenham Hotspur manager. Igor Tudor and Spurs mutually agreed to part ways in north London, one week after they were beaten 3-0 at home by Nottingham Forest.

De Zerbi, who left Marseille back in February, is the bookmakers' top pick to take the reins at Spurs. It's believed the Italian has already held confidential discussions with Tottenham's hierarchy and may even be prepared to step in immediately - a dramatic change of heart from his previously reported preference to wait until the end of the season.

Tottenham find themselves dangerously close to the drop zone, with Tudor leaving the club languishing in 17th, just one point clear of 18th-placed West Ham United. As the club weigh up their options, here's what the bookies make of the likely contenders.

According to Bet365, De Zerbi is the clear favourite to walk through the doors of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, currently priced at evens. A sentimental return for Mauricio Pochettino is listed at 6/1, though any potential comeback for the Argentine would only materialise after the World Cup, where he will be leading hosts the USA.

Relegation survival expert and former Burnley boss Sean Dyche is priced at 12/1, while former Monaco and Borussia Monchengladbach manager Adi Hutter is available at 8/1. The Austrian boss is also placed marginally above former Spurs chief Harry Redknapp, who has consistently expressed his interest by publicly stating how much he would love to take the reins at Tottenham once more, 14 years since his exit from the club.

Below is the list of potential managers who could take over according to Bet365. The odds are correct the time of publishing.

Roberto De Zerbi - Evens

Mauricio Pochettino - 6/1

Adi Hutter - 8/1

Thiago Motta - 8/1

Sean Dyche - 12/1

Robbie Keane - 14/1

Harry Redknapp - 16/1

Marco Silva - 16/1

Oliver Glasner - 18/1

Marco Rose - 20/1

When Tottenham announced Tudor's exit from the club, they issued an official statement on their social media channels. It said: "We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect.

"Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach. We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly.

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"We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time. An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course."

Tottenham face a challenging fixture list to conclude a disastrous season. Following the international break, they must make the trip to Sunderland on April 12, welcome Brighton on April 18 and then head to Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 25.

The final four fixtures of the season are equally demanding, as they visit Aston Villa, welcome Leeds United, travel to Chelsea and then wrap up the campaign with a home clash against Everton.

Tottenham have parted ways with interim coach Igor Tudor and are searching for a new manager with the club just one point clear of the relegation zone ahead of five crucial fixtures

Tottenham have sacked interim manager Igor Tudor following just a short stint in charge after taking over from the dismissed Thomas Frank in February. The choice to part ways with Tudor came after a devastating 3-0 loss to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest before the international break.

That defeat left Spurs only one point above West Ham United, who currently sit 18th in the drop zone. A club statement read: "We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect. Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

"We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time. An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course."

While there's been no official word on who will take the reins, Mirror Football understands that Spurs anticipate naming a new head coach within the next few days, ensuring they're in position when the squad returns from international duty and allowing them roughly 10 days to work with the team.

Bruno Saltor is still at the club and is currently overseeing training for the small group of players remaining at Hotspur Way. Earlier this week, it was reported that the club had discussions with Adi Hutter about becoming their next manager.

However, no deal has been finalised for the 56-year-old, who also lacks Premier League experience. He's not the only manager being linked with the job in north London, as Roberto De Zerbi is also reportedly in the running.

Marco Rose and Edin Terzic could re-emerge as contenders, having both been evaluated prior to Tudor's appointment. Meanwhile, former boss Mauricio Pochettino has also been connected, although he's unlikely to be immediately available as he's still managing the United States until after the World Cup.

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Regardless, whoever takes over will have the massive job of stabilising the team and steering Spurs clear of relegation. With that in mind, Mirror Football has taken a lot at Spurs' next five Premier League matches as they fight to stay up.

Sunderland (A) - Sunday, April 12 (2pm).

Brighton (H) - Saturday, April 18 (3pm).

Wolves (A) - Saturday, April 25 (3pm).

Aston Villa (A) - Saturday, May 2 (12:30pm).

Leeds United (H) - Date to be confirmed.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack backs David Raya to overcome his costly mistake ahead of Sunday's North London Derby and predicts Gunners will beat struggling Tottenham

David Raya has received backing to bounce back from his mistake that cost Arsenal valuable points in the Premier League title race ahead of Sunday's North London Derby.

The Gunners travel the short distance to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Igor Tudor's side, who haven't secured a Premier League victory in eight matches. Arsenal are now only two points clear of Manchester City following Pep Guardiola's team's 2-1 triumph over Newcastle on Saturday evening, and Arteta will be keen to stretch that advantage to five points with victory at Spurs.

Arsenal head into the fixture following back-to-back league draws, though. On Wednesday they could only manage a 2-2 stalemate with bottom-placed Wolves, with Raya's late error presenting Tom Edozie with the opportunity to net his maiden senior goal.

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Ex-goalkeeper Graham Stack has expressed confidence that Raya will leave the error behind him and rediscover his top form. Stack, speaking exclusively to Reach via the best betting apps, said: "I would say that the most experienced and best goalies in the world, the most successful ones, are the ones that are able to deal with failure really quickly, to move on and not dwell on it.

"The best make the fewest mistakes, don't they? But those fewest mistakes, they're probably highlighted the most because of the platform and the team and scrutiny on teams and players at the top of the league. Raya might make one error and even when he make ten absolute worldies in the same game, it'll be that one error that would be spoken about.

"With Raya, I think the team he has around him, in terms of his goalkeeping coach, who he's worked with previously at Brentford, his manager and the players, I guarantee you now they will be giving him nothing but self-belief and confidence throughout the week, which he may or may not need in truth. The strongest individuals are able to park it up, deal with it and move on within minutes, and it's all about the next action in the game. Raya falls into that category for sure of one with an abundance of resilience and mental strength."

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Spurs currently languish in 16th position and sit merely four points clear of the drop zone. As Tudor prepares for his maiden match in charge of the north Londoners on Sunday, the Croatian boss will be desperate for three points - though the odds are heavily against the hosts.

"I really do think Arsenal will win the game, and that's not my heart speaking," Stack said. "I know there'll be arguments saying how can you say they're going to go and turn them over when they've obviously struggled at home against Wolves."

He added: "But I'm not being funny, Tottenham with a new manager will be buoyed, but I think Arsenal will win the game, and that's my brain, that's my football head talking. I really do, because I think Tottenham, I jut think the club is in a bad place and moment in time.

"They're not a good footballing side versus their teams that we’ve seen in past years, I think the stadium is toxic because I think their supporters have had enough, I think they're clutching at straws in terms of they've got a manager until the end of the season, I just think they've completely lost their stability at the club at the minute, I really do, I don't think they've got much stability at all."