Every word from Roberto De Zerbi's first Tottenham press conference

Every word from Roberto De Zerbi’s first Tottenham press conference

Roberto De Zerbi held his first press conference as Tottenham Hotspur manager, expressing confidence in his players and enjoyment of his new role despite the team’s relegation struggle. He emphasised the need for unity and positivity to achieve their goals, while addressing concerns about player injuries and his coaching style.

Isabelle Martin

April 10, 2026

5–8 minutes

2025/26, De Zerbi Tottenham, football, news, Pre-Match, Premier League, Press Conference, Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham, UPDATES

Roberto De Zerbi spoke to the media this afternoon in his first press conference as Tottenham Hotspur boss. Here’s everything he had to say ahead of his side’s clash against Sunderland…

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Are you excited to be here?

Yes, I have enjoyed my first week here because they showed me a big, big confidence, and now all you have to work, and now we have to make points. I’m sure about the level of the players, because many players in the past I was very, very close to bring them in my former teams. They are working very well.

I think I’m not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudo because I consider them very good coaches. I try to bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my patience, to help the player to, first of all, to show their qualities, because they have a lot of qualities. And then to reach, to achieve our target, because it’s the most important part now, is our target.

Sounds like they’ve enjoyed your training, too. Now you’ve worked with them for a week, are you even more confident that you can keep this huge club in the Premier League?

Yes, yes, and I knew before to work with them. I understood that they are good guys. The fans, they have to be happy because all players are good guys. They are suffering for this difficult situation.

And I want to see in the game, because during the week is easier. But I think the voice inside of the pitch is changing. I observated them at the beginning of my time last week, and now I’m more positive for sure.

Many Spurs fans are very happy with your appointment. If there are some that are still having concerns, what is your message to them?

Well, I have no any message because also in the last game against Nottingham Forest they were fantastic before the game.

The message for my staff, for my players, we have to deserve that they support. Because the fans are suffering like us, like the players. But for the fans there is just one club, just one team. The player can change team, but for the fans it’s unique, their club.

So we have to make happy our fans, play well, with the right spirit, with the right attitude, with the right behaviour on the pitch. And then I think it’s easier to make points.

Roberto, welcome to Tottenham. I suppose the big question is why you take on this job at this particular time, with the club in a relegation battle — why now?

We know, because you can consider, depend on your angle, you look at the situation. From my perspective it was a big opportunity because Tottenham is one of the most important clubs in Premier League. Premier League is the best league in the world.

I love the qualities of the players. We have a lot, a lot of specific players for my style. And then there was a crucial part, there was 12 days before the first game. And for me it was important. 12, no, too much time, but 10 days, more than one week.

I thought I could be important to understand the problems. I don’t want to give too many principles, too many instructions on the pitch if we are speaking about just football, but our organisation with the ball, without the ball. And I hope in one week, 10 days, to reach this target for me.

You’ve been hit with a blow with Mohammed Kudus’ injury. What is the nature of it, and does it rule him out for the season?

Yes, I started not to be lucky, but yes, Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position. But we have to look forward anyway.

I think we have a lot of very good attackers and we have to help them, to put them in the best condition to show their qualities. Because Kolo Muani, I know, is not playing a great season, but is a good player. I know him, like Mathys Tel. I wanted him in Marseille when I was in Marseille.

Richarlison is a big talent, Solanke you know maybe better than me. And so we have to put them in the best condition we can.

How is Vicario after his surgery, and can anyone return for Sunderland?

No, Vicario is not ready for this game. I hope he can come back earlier next week, but I don’t know yet. He is working with us but not completely. But we are enough to fight, to play, and to make points.

You must be confident about keeping Spurs up, especially as there’s no break clause in your contract if the club go down?

Well… listen… I believe to keep the Premier League has to be clear for everyone, because I want to work in Premier League and I think I deserve to be working in Premier League.

But the main sense of my work is more than legal. And anyway, if I sign my contract in April, I have to be ready to stay no matter what in the next season.

So I want to stay focussed on Sunderland and the other games again. But my idea is very clear.

Some players have been linked with leaving in the summer. Is part of your job to convince them to stay?

No, no, no, it is not important for me now. Now we have to push all together, all players, all staff, all people inside the training ground, all fans inside the stadium, to achieve our goal.

And then we will see. For sure I don’t want players if they don’t want to stay. My contract is for five years. For sure I want to say my opinion in transfer market session because I am a coach. But I want to see the players happy to work in this club.

You’ve mentioned your style — is it a good fit with Spurs’ identity?

Well, listen, my style is one part about the style of play and one part about the character, the personality.

I have no time enough to work in the principles or in build-up as for much, or in the last 20 metres. I want to give an organisation with the ball, without the ball, two, three principles. Without the ball, two, three principles, something more in possession, in offensive space.

And that’s it. What I want to do and what I want to achieve immediately is the character, the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack. Because the DNA of this club, of this squad, is to find the goal, to score.

And in this part I can be able to transfer not in too much time my principles.

Have any players surprised you in training this week?

In the last video I watched a lot of games, especially of Tottenham. One thing is to watch the game, another thing is to work with them on the pitch.

We have very big players, young players, Archie Gray, Matistel, Chalissimus. But anyway we have older players very important. Van de Ven is a crucial player for me, like Romero, like Porro, like Solanke.

I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea time. And I think I’m lucky because I have big confidence in my players and their qualities.

And for me my target is to help them to play well, to enjoy with the ball, because their characteristics are very clear for me.