Soccer analysis: Can Roberto De Zerbi save Tottenham from relegation with seven Premier League games left?
Tottenham haven't just made a change - they've made a statement.
With the Premier League season coming to a close, and the club lingering in 17th place, this feels like a calculated gamble rather than a reset.
The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi is Spurs putting all their cards on the table, turning to a coach who has been widely praised as a "genius" despite his somewhat volatile past.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Matthew Morgan assesses Spurs’ chances of survival under new boss De Zerbi.
Making his name
De Zerbi made his name at Brighton and Hove Albion in 2023, elevating Brighton to a respectable first division side, garnering sixth place in the League and securing European football.
Even after his departure from Brighton, following disagreements over the club’s future with chairman Tony Bloom, the foundations he laid still remain on the south coast.
Now, that volatility follows him to North London.
Spurs are in their worst position since 1977, when they were relegated, and Igor Tudor’s brief spell in charge only made matters worse, raising the stakes for Roberto De Zerbi.
Long-term deal
De Zerbi, who was unenthusiastic about joining a club before the summer, had been persuaded to join Spurs on a long-term deal.
He said: “Their ambition for the future has been clear, to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters."
"I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it."
According to Opta, Spurs’ relegation probability stands at a worrying 27.4%, with only West Ham United seen as more likely to fall at 56.9% among the sides in danger.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: FA Cup betting tips: Man City to beat Liverpool, Gabriel Martinelli to score, and more FA Cup quarter-final betting tips
Within reach
Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are within reach, but only if the new manager can bring the consistency Spurs have lacked all season.
To make matters worse, he has inherited a squad plagued by injuries, particularly to key attacking players.
The absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski robbed Spurs of fluency in the final third.
Even before overseeing his first full training session, Senegal midfielder Pape Matar Sarr missed the match against Gambia on Tuesday, March 31, adding to an already lengthy injury list.
Style challenge
For the remaining games of the season, De Zerbi’s biggest challenge will not be raising confidence, but implementing his style of football quickly, and hoping it clicks.
His preferred system, typically a 4-2-3-1, is built around controlled build-up play, inviting pressure before breaking forward with quick counterattacks.
The players Spurs have at their disposal could suit this approach.
Deeper-lying passers such as Joao Palhinha and Pedro Porro can help progress the ball, creating space for more technical players like Xavi Simons and Lucas Bergvall to operate between the lines and supply Dominic Solanke or Richarlison as the target man up top.
Out of possession, De Zerbi is known for his high, organised pressing, often wanting players to step out of position to force mistakes.
How quickly he can implement these ideas will ultimately determine whether Spurs have enough to survive.
This is a club that has been struggling for some time, and hopefully, the new manager's direction is just what they need.
