Tottenham Hotspur have turned to a familiar attacking philosophy in a desperate bid to avoid relegation, with Roberto De Zerbi aiming to revive the club’s free-flowing style associated with former manager Ange Postecoglou. The Italian coach has just seven matches to turn things around and is keeping his approach simple as he tries to quickly influence the squad. Spurs are currently struggling, having lost seven of their last nine games, and face a serious threat of going down for the first time in nearly five decades.
Back to attacking roots
De Zerbi has made it clear that he wants to bring back the aggressive, possession-based football that defined Postecoglou’s time at the club. He believes that style once made Tottenham one of the most exciting teams to watch.
“I want to keep the ball,” De Zerbi said to The Guardian, stressing his desire to see the same energy and quality in play. He pointed to players like Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero as key figures who can help bring that identity back on the pitch. The idea is not to overload players with too many tactical instructions. Instead, De Zerbi is focusing on a few clear ideas that can be implemented quickly. With very little time to train, he has held several one-on-one meetings with players to communicate his vision.
Also Read | Juventus face summer shake up with key exits likely if UCL spot slips
Mental strength is key in a fight
While tactics matter, De Zerbi believes the biggest challenge is mental. According to him, confidence and belief will play a decisive role in whether Spurs can survive. “The most important part in football is the mental part,” he said, adding that the team must believe in itself and maintain focus for the full 90 minutes. Despite criticism over his short managerial stints in the past, De Zerbi has committed his future to Tottenham with a contract until 2031. He insists he wants to build something long-term, even though the immediate goal is simply survival.
Also Read | Nike probes World Cup kit flaw after complaints over shirt design
He has taken some encouragement from recent performances, including a draw against Liverpool and a win over Atletico Madrid, suggesting there is still quality within the squad. Tottenham’s next match against Sunderland will offer the first real glimpse of whether De Zerbi’s ideas are beginning to take shape. For now, the mission is clear. Restore belief, rediscover identity, and collect enough points to stay up.
