Home of football statistics and historyFor a couple of years, Roberto De Zerbi was possibly one of the most sought-after managers in the Premier League. Getting the most out of a Brighton side whose top players were routinely poached by big clubs like Chelsea was seen as exceptional work for a coach who had previously peaked by winning a Ukrainian Super Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk.
He led the Seagulls to qualification for the 2023/24 Europa League, which was a feat that had previously seemed impossible. It was the result of his intense game plan that prioritised positional rotation and slick, accurate passing that could bypass the most intense of presses. It took his plucky underdog side to heights that they have struggled to achieve since his departure.
Fastforward to 2026, and the Italian’s stock has fallen to the point where he was brought in to perform a firefighting role for a side in the Premier League’s relegation zone. Admittedly, that side was Tottenham Hotspur, but it’s a far cry from the De Zerbi that looked set for the elite. So, how has the Italian Spurs side looked so far, and how can he implement his style to achieve greatness once again?
A Spurs Side Filled With International Talent to Build From
Despite Tottenham struggling in 2025/26, it is still a club that is packed to the rafters with international-standard footballers. Players such as Djed Spence and Conor Gallagher are likely to feature in the England squad at the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions have World Cup odds of around 13/2 to win the competition, showing the level of quality within the squad.
That says nothing of the fact that the squad actually features a winner of the 2024 edition in Cristian Romero. Roberto De Zerbi has strong players at his disposal, who are well able to adapt to different playing styles on the international stage. With a full pre-season under his belt, few would bet against the Italian successfully implementing his trademark approach.
Already, he appears to have instituted a flexible style of play, particularly in his defensive set-up. His desire for a fluid back three appears to have already been achieved. His goalkeeper regularly steps up between the two primary centre-backs to overwhelm the attacking complements of the opposition, and this is largely due to the ability of Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso to recover positions in the box with their speed and nous.
A Fully Fit Squad and Significant Investment Could Transform Spurs
Spurs’ transfer investment has been a topic of derision in recent years. The signings made have flattered to deceive, and it is perhaps the signings they failed to make that have defined their recent poor seasons. Eberechi Eze and Antoine Semenyo were two creative players that the Tottenham board were keen on, but they ultimately lost out to Arsenal and Manchester City, respectively.
Those two players would go on to be part of a ding-dong of a title race and would have provided serious firepower for the Lilywhites. Instead, Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel, and Mohamed Kudus were brought in as attacking options. Simons and Kudus have had season-disrupting injuries, but were looking promising in fits and starts.
A chance to get a season of full fitness from the three of them would certainly see Tottenham reap the rewards, but they will also require big reinvestment. There is likely to be a clear-out in the summer, and identifying the areas where the money could be reused is key. In goal, there is a clear need for an established name, and up front, an out-and-out striker is required.
If the hierarchy at the club can find players with a combination of tactical flexibility and technical ability with the ball at their feet, they could get the best out of their Italian coach. His mastery of getting sides splitting the lines and stretching the pitch is clearly why he was brought in, with a view to a new dawn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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