Roberto De Zerbi spoke to the media for the first time as our new Head Coach at Hotspur Way on Friday, ahead of our Premier League clash at Sunderland on Sunday (2pm UK).
Here’s what he had to say…
Have you enjoyed your first week at Spurs?
Roberto: “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.”
Now you’ve worked with the players for a week, are you even more confident that you can keep this huge club in the Premier League?
Roberto: “Yes, yes. I knew before working 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 on 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.
Many Spurs fans are very happy with your appointment. If there are some that are still having concerns, what is your message to them?
Roberto: “I have no message, because also in the last game against Nottingham Forest they were fantastic before the game. The message is for my staff, for my players - we have to deserve their support because the fans are suffering like us, like the players, but for the fans there is just one club, just one team. The players can change team, club, but for the fans it's unique, their club. So, we have to make happy, our fans, playing well, with the right spirit, with the right attitude, with the right behaviour on the pitch. Then I think it's easier to make points.”
The big question on a lot of people's minds is why did you take on this job at this particular time?
Roberto: “Why now? You can consider, it depends on your angle, you look at the situation. From my perspective, it was a big opportunity because Tottenham is one of the most important clubs in the Premier League. The Premier League is the best league in the world. I love the qualities of the players, we have a lot of specific players for my style. Then there was a crucial part, there was 12 days before the first game. For me, it was important to have not too much time, but 10 days, more than one week. I thought it could be important to understand the problems. I don't want to give too many principles, too many instructions on the pitch if we are speaking about just football, but organisation with the ball, without the ball, and I hope in one week, 10 days, to reach this target.”
You’ve been hit with a big blow with the injury setback to Mohammed Kudus…
Roberto: "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. 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, Solanke you know maybe better than me. We have to put them in the best condition we can."
How is Guglielmo Vicario doing after his hernia surgery? Can any other players come back for this game against Sunderland?
Roberto: "Vicario is not ready for this game. 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."
You must be very confident about keeping Spurs up because we understand there is no break clause in your contract if they were to go down, is that correct?
Roberto: “Listen, I believe to keep the Premier League, first of all, has to be clear for everyone, because I want to work in the Premier League and I think I deserve to work in the Premier League. The main sense of my work is more than the league. Anyway, if I sign my contract in April, I have to be ready to stay no matter what in the next season. So, I want to stay focused on Sunderland and the other six games again, but my idea is very clear.”
There's been talk about some of the players maybe wanting to leave in the summer. Is that part of your job as well? You've said, ‘I'm staying here’, do you to convince them to stay as well?
Roberto: “It's not important for me now. Now, we have to push together all players, all staff, all people inside of training ground, all fans inside of the stadium to achieve our goal. 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 in transfer market session because I am a coach, but I want to see the players happy to work in this club.”
Your style and Spurs - is it the ideal marriage, the ideal fit?
Roberto: “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, three principles without the ball, two, three principles, four more, something more in ball possession in offensive space - 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.”
Have any players surprised you up close in training – maybe younger players like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall?
Roberto: “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. We have older players that are very important. Van de Ven is a crucial player for me, like Romero, like 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.”
You've only brought in two coaches with you that you've worked with in the past - does that make it more difficult to get your ideas across?
Roberto: “It's a totally different situation, because we have no time to work like in Brighton or Marseille or another place I've been. 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. My demand is to show the right spirit I want to see.”
You've signed a long contract. You've spent a certain amount of time at different clubs, maybe not long, long term. What makes you think Tottenham is the one that you settle down at longer?
Roberto: “I don't know. I stayed three years in Sassuolo and then I left Ukraine when the war started. In Brighton, I left for different problems, Marseille maybe the same. I would like to stay for a long time. I don't know how many years. In Marseille, my idea was to stay for a long time and then you have to speak with the club and when you have a different view of the football or the other things you have to leave. In my plan, for sure, 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.”
