Roberto De Zerbi has been handed a daunting task at Tottenham Hotspur, with just seven games remaining to steer the club away from Premier League relegation. Spurs sit 17th in the table, one point above the drop zone, and could fall into the bottom three before their next match at Sunderland.
The Italian has signed a long-term contract, but his immediate priority is survival. Among the issues he must address is a defence that has not kept a league clean sheet since New Year’s Day. Structural disorganisation and a lack of accountability have plagued recent performances, with captain Cristian Romero facing criticism for failing to lead by example.
De Zerbi’s fiery personality may help motivate Romero, who can be a positive influence. However, if he fails to win over the Argentine, a squad already low on confidence could slide further. Xavi Simons, Tottenham’s only fit creative outlet, was marginalised by interim manager Igor Tudor but could be revived under De Zerbi. The Dutch midfielder scored twice in a recent win over Atletico Madrid and offers attacking quality.
Archie Gray, who has played multiple positions this season, is expected to feature in his preferred central midfield role alongside Lucas Bergvall after the Swede’s return from injury. Their energy and balance in transition could remedy Spurs’ lack of cohesion. In goal, Antonin Kinsky is likely to start against Sunderland while Guglielmo Vicario recovers from hernia surgery. De Zerbi must quickly instil confidence in Kinsky after his error against Atletico Madrid.
With six games left after Sunderland, De Zerbi’s immediate impact will be critical to keeping Tottenham in the Premier League.
