Roberto de Zerbi asserts he will be the Tottenham manager ‘regardless’ next season.
Roberto de Zerbi has stated that he will be the head coach of Tottenham “no matter what” for the upcoming season and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to remain in the Premier League.
The 46-year-old has signed a five-year deal to take over from Igor Tudor, but his initial hesitation to assume the role right away—preferring to wait until summer—has sparked worries that De Zerbi might leave if Tottenham faces relegation.
Currently, they are positioned just one spot and one point above the relegation zone ahead of their match against Sunderland on Sunday.
“My primary belief is to keep [Spurs] in the Premier League,” he stated on Friday. “This must be clear to everyone. I aspire to work in the Premier League, and I believe I deserve that opportunity.”
“However, the essence of my work extends beyond just the league.”
“Regardless, if I sign my contract in April, I must be prepared to remain no matter what in the next season. Therefore, I want to concentrate on Sunderland and the other six matches ahead. But my intentions are very clear.”
De Zerbi began his role last week and shared his reasons for being optimistic about Spurs avoiding relegation:
“I have confidence in the players’ level because many of them were very close to joining my previous teams,” De Zerbi, who had previously considered signing Conor Gallagher and Xavi Simons, remarked.
“They are performing well. I do not consider myself superior to [former head coaches] Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor, as I regard them as excellent coaches. I aim to bring my style, my character, my personality, and my passion to highlight their strengths, as they possess many qualities, and then to achieve our objective because that is the most crucial aspect at this moment.”
“The fans should feel satisfied because all the players are good individuals, and they are enduring this challenging situation. I want to see that reflected in the game because it is easier to observe during the week. However, the atmosphere on the pitch is evolving. I noticed them at the start of my tenure last week, and now I feel more optimistic for sure.”
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De Zerbi also disclosed that Guglielmo Vicario will not be available for the match against Sunderland as he continues to recover from a hernia operation, meaning Antonín Kinsky will start in goal for the first time since being substituted after just 17 minutes during Spurs’ 5-2 loss to Atlético Madrid last month.
Mohammed Kudus is also sidelined after experiencing a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury. De Zerbi did not confirm whether the winger would require surgery or the duration of his absence but added:
“Kudus was a key player in my plans, particularly for that position, but we must look ahead. We have many talented attackers, but we need to support them and place them in the best possible positions.”
