Roberto de Zerbi has declared his commitment to being Tottenham’s head coach for the next season, regardless of circumstances, while expressing confidence that the team can remain in the Premier League.
The 46-year-old recently signed a five-year contract to replace Igor Tudor; however, his initial hesitation to accept the position right away—preferring to join in the summer—has fueled speculation about his potential departure should Tottenham face relegation.
Currently, they sit one position and just one point above the relegation zone as they prepare for Sunday’s match against Sunderland.
“My priority is to keep [Spurs] in the Premier League,” he asserted on Friday. “This is important for everyone to understand. I want to work at this level, and I believe I deserve the opportunity to do so.
“However, my commitment goes beyond just the league.”
“If I signed my contract in April, I must be prepared to stay no matter what next season brings. For now, my focus is on Sunderland and the remaining six matches. My intentions are very clear.”
De Zerbi began his role last week and shared his reasons for believing Spurs will steer clear of relegation:
“I am confident in the abilities of the players; many of them were close to signing with my previous teams,” he remarked, mentioning his past interest in Conor Gallagher and Xavi Simons.
“They are performing well. I’m not claiming to be better than coaches like Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor; I respect them as highly skilled. Instead, I aim to incorporate my style, character, passion, and personality to highlight the players’ strengths and achieve our objectives. Our current focus must remain on achieving those targets.
“The fans deserve happiness, and the players, who are genuinely good individuals, are enduring a tough situation. I want to see this reflected during matches because while it’s easier to sense during practice, the atmosphere on the pitch is evolving. I’ve noticed a significant improvement in their mindset since I arrived last week, which gives me renewed optimism.”
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De Zerbi also disclosed that Guglielmo Vicario won’t be available for the match against Sunderland as he recovers from a hernia operation. As a result, Antonín Kinsky will take the goal, marking his first appearance since being substituted after just 17 minutes during Spurs’ 5-2 loss to Atlético Madrid last month.
Mohammed Kudus is also sidelined following a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury. Although De Zerbi did not confirm whether the winger would require surgery or how long he would be out, he commented:
“Kudus was a crucial player in my plans, particularly for his position, but we need to look ahead. We have many strong attacking options, and we must support them while positioning them for success.”