‘People Saying From The Outside’ – Tottenham Legend Hits Back At Key De Zerbi Criticism
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Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts has hit back at critics suggesting Roberto De Zerbi does not stay in jobs long term by pointing towards the size of Spurs as a club.
Spurs have appointed De Zerbi as their manager following the departure of boss Igor Tudor, amid Richard Keys suggesting the Italian has got lucky to get the job.
The Italian manager has signed a contract until 2031, with his immediate priority being to keep the Lilywhites in the Premier League this season.
Tottenham are currently just one point above the relegation zone, sitting 17th in the league table with 30 points after 31 matches.
De Zerbi has built a reputation across Europe for his attacking philosophy, having managed clubs such as Sassuolo, Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille.
However, he has not stayed in any job for too long, prompting questions over how his honeymoon at Tottenham will last.
Roberts has weighed in on the situation, stressing the importance of long-term commitment while pointing out that managing Tottenham represents a different level compared to De Zerbi’s previous roles, indicating he may be inclined to remain for a longer period.
The former defender also indicated that the Italian may not get another opportunity of this magnitude, underlining the scale of the job and suggesting he must use it as a chance to take the club back to the levels seen under Mauricio Pochettino.
Roberts wrote on X: “We also need the manager to commit and be with us for the long term and people saying from the outside that his not been at clubs long he has never managed a big as club as Spurs and might never again this is his chance to get us back to Poch days!”
De Zerbi’s previous experience in the Premier League with Brighton is expected to be a key asset, having managed the club from September 2022 until the end of the 2023/24 season.
Under De Zerbi, Brighton finished the 2022/23 campaign in sixth place, the club’s highest-ever league finish, and qualified for European competition for the first time in the club’s history.
During his tenure, they were one of the only three sides to both score and concede over 100 Premier League goals, alongside Tottenham and Chelsea.
The Italian manager’s last job was with Marseille, where he mutually agreed to part ways in February this year following a thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain.
Following the FA Cup weekend, De Zerbi’s first match in charge is set to be away at Sunderland on 12th April.
He will then take charge of his first home game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against his former side Brighton on 18th April.
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