De Zerbi: ‘I will be Tottenham coach next season, no matter what’

New Tottenham Hotspur coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that he will stay at the club if they are relegated to the EFL Championship, after signing a five-year contract that he describes as the ‘most important challenge’ in his career.

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Speaking to the club’s official X account, the Italian gave a lengthy interview where he discussed why he chose to join Tottenham and what needs to happen to get the club out of their ‘difficult moment.’

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

De Zerbi did not sugarcoat the challenge on his hands, making no light of the difficult predicament the North London club find themselves in.

Spurs are just one point above the relegation zone with seven games to play, and De Zerbi has been brought in expeditiously in order to help boost their survival chances.

“I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many games per week. I know everything, I know its a tough moment for Tottenham. But I know very well it’s a tough moment. It’s a difficult moment for everyone in Tottenham. I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment.”

De Zerbi: ‘I believe in the players’

One frequently recurring message of De Zerbi’s interview was the undeniable faith he holds in the squad.

“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 with confidence in them and their qualities. They have to show what they are what they are used to playing.”

He then stressed the need to take it a game at a time, and not get too caught up with hypotheticals at this stage.

“I think we have to be focused just on the Sunderland game,  I don’t want to speak about the schedule or the Brighton game or the Wolves game. Game by game, we have to prepare the players to win the game and to be focused just on the game.”

Last time we heard an Italian talking about the ‘history of Tottenham’, Giorgio Chiellini became meme immortal. This time, De Zerbi was a little more serious.

“We have to play with courage. We have to play with the qualities of the players, because if I accepted this challenge, it is because I have a lot of confidence in the players and the history of Tottenham football is a very clear style of play.

“The fans in the last seven games, especially in this moment, are crucial. We have to be together, they have to stay close to the players and the players have to give the right mentality and the right attitude to give back to the fans satisfaction and what they want to see on the pitch.

“Because after this part of the season, I think we can become great in the future.”

De Zerbi talks footballing philosophy & confirms he will coach Spurs next season

De Zerbi was asked about his philosophy and what Spurs fans can expect from his style of play.

“I think it’s not the right moment to speak about my philosophy in football. I’m here now, at the end for the season because we have to win games. And in football, the style of play, the tactical disposition are important.. But it’s a mentality and I would like to help the players reach the best mentality we can show.”

He then confirmed that he will be in charge next season, even if the club are relegated.

“I signed 5 years of contract because for me it’s a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.”

The Italian did briefly touch upon his outlook on play and what he expects from his players, but stressed the need to tailor and adapt to what he has available to him in terms of players.

“I love keeping the ball, I love ball possession. I love creating chances, the chance to score. But in the same time, I love 11 defenders when we don’t have the ball because in this time of football we have to attack with 11 players, the keeper as well, and we have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not with us.

“I think in this moment we do not have time to work too much in more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have good organisation with and without the ball. 

“We have to consider the qualities of the players.We are lucky, I am lucky because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”

Finally, De Zerbi concluded with a touching homage to the sport

“Many times I’ve said football is my life and my life is football. But it’s true because football is my work. I respect football because football gave me everything. And for me, it’s not real work, it’s a passion.

“If I stay at home I watch football, If I work I watch football and nothing changes. For me, Tottenham, especially in this moment, it’s maybe the most important challenge in my career. I’m ready to start this challenge and I go to work with my characteristics, passion, vision of football and knowledge as well.