De Zerbi Suggests Spurs Players Require a ‘Father Figure’ Over a Coach Following Initial Defeat

The Italian manager stepped in for interim coach Igor Tudor at the end of last month, with Spurs beginning his first match in charge languishing in the Premier League relegation zone after West Ham’s win over Wolves on Friday.

Sunday’s defeat, attributed to a heavily deflected goal from Nordi Mukiele in the second half, has left them two points adrift of the Hammers, with only six matches remaining.

Apologies to Spurs fans, as the club has not secured a Premier League win since late December, facing a daunting challenge to avert their first relegation since 1977.

However, De Zerbi, who is the third manager to take the reins in what has been a tumultuous season for the London side, remarked that a single victory could shift the atmosphere entirely.

“We need to focus on securing one win because that one victory can transform everything this season,” he expressed to Sky Sports.

“I have 24 hours in a day, and time is not an issue. We created opportunities in the first half, similar to what we have been doing throughout the week.”

“The players possess immense talent, but we must instil more belief in ourselves. The key is to win just one match.”

“We certainly can perform better than we did today, but after only five or six training sessions, it’s challenging. We must all remain focused on achieving that first victory.”

Next week, Tottenham will go head-to-head with Brighton, followed by a match against bottom-placed Wolves, but it’s tough to pinpoint where their next win might originate.

De Zerbi mentioned that his new squad, who have already lost half of their 32 league encounters this season, have the necessary quality but are grappling with a crisis of self-belief.

“I can be like a big brother, a father; they don’t really need a coach,” he shared with the BBC. “They don’t require improvements in their football skills. They are capable of playing better, and they will once we elevate our level of confidence.”