De Zerbi: Spurs Players Require a ‘Father Figure’ Instead of a Coach Following Opening Game Defeat

The Italian coach succeeded interim manager Igor Tudor at the end of last month, with Spurs starting his first match in the Premier League entrenched in the relegation zone after West Ham’s triumph over Wolves on Friday.

Their recent defeat, stemming from a deflected shot by Nordi Mukiele in the second half, left them two points adrift of the Hammers with merely six fixtures remaining.

Unfortunately for Spurs, they have yet to secure a Premier League victory since late December and are grappling with the daunting prospect of their first relegation since 1977.

Despite being the London club’s third manager in a tumultuous season, De Zerbi emphasised that a win could significantly uplift the team’s spirits.

“We must focus on achieving one win because that single victory could change everything this season,” he relayed to Sky Sports.

“I have all day to work on this; time is not the issue. We created opportunities in the first half, just as we have been doing throughout the week.”

“The players possess immense talent, but we need to have more faith in ourselves, and the key element is to secure one win.”

“I know we can perform at a much higher level than we did today, but it is challenging after only five or six training sessions. We all need to concentrate on winning that first game.”

Tottenham will face Brighton in the coming week, followed by a clash against bottom-placed Wolves, yet it remains uncertain where their next win may come from.

De Zerbi acknowledged that his new team, which has lost half of its 32 league matches this season, possesses the talent but is currently battling with a crisis of confidence.

“I can serve as a big brother or a father figure; they don’t just need a coach,” he stated to the BBC. “They don’t require improvements in their footballing skills. They are capable of playing better, and they will once we elevate their confidence to a new level.”