De Zerbi says one thing Joao Palhinha did for Tottenham sent him ‘crazy’
Roberto De Zerbi has given a fantastic response when asked about what Joao Palhinha did for Tottenham against Aston Villa.
The Portuguese international has made crucial contributions over the last two games that have helped Tottenham climb out of the relegation zone, at least temporarily.
The 30-year-old scored the all-important match-winner against Wolves last week, which gave the Lilywhites their first league win of the calendar year.
Palhinha was drafted into the starting eleven by De Zerbi at Villa Park, and the former Fulham man delivered a display full of fight and quality alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher in the middle of the park.
Roberto De Zerbi explains why Tottenham star Joao Palhinha makes him ‘crazy’
The experienced midfielder shielded the back four impressively alongside Bentancur, with Villa struggling to create cut chances through the game.
De Zerbi was seen celebrating emotionally with Palhinha after the final whistle, and the Tottenham boss admitted that he loves watching players such as the 31-year-old, who wear their heart on their sleeve.
When asked about the passion that his side showed and the fact that they were celebrating every tackle, De Zerbi responded to Football.London: “Yeah, I love Palhinha like this (grabs his shirt and pulls it).”
When asked if he demanded that the players celebrate tackles, the Italian responded: “No, no, they have not to follow me in this, but if I saw one player like passionate, I become crazy.”
Has Palhinha just boosted his chances of staying at Spurs?
Tottenham have the option to sign Palhinha permanently for £22m, but reports over the last few weeks have indicated that there is uncertainty over whether Spurs will activate the option to sign the midfielder.
Some outlets have suggested that Tottenham will demand a discount from Bayern for Palhinha, with the Lilywhites not willing to pay the £22m price.
However, the 30-year-old’s latest performance, allied with the relationship he is forging with De Zerbi, considerably boosts his chances of remaining at N17 beyond the end of the season.
The post De Zerbi says one thing Joao Palhinha did for Tottenham sent him ‘crazy’ appeared first on Spurs Web.