De Zerbi tempts players with free dinners every week if they turn things around
Tottenham are in a desperate chase for salvation for the final month of the season, and new manager Roberto De Zerbi is pulling out of the stops.
Tottenham are in desperate need of a win. It´s been three and a half months without a Premier League victory and relegation is a real possibility. New manager Roberto De Zerbi found out just how dire things are at the club in his debut last week against Sunderland. With just six matches remaining, the Italian is trying anything and everything to turn things around.
Fourth time’s a charm
Nothing has gone right for Spurs this season. After winning the club’s first European title in over 40 years, they got rid of Ange Postecoglou at the end of last season. Since then three different managers have been on the touchline, and so far none of them have been able to stop what has been a historically poor season.
De Zerbi was brought in during the international break in March, but didn’t make his debut until last week. He had a few weeks to try and mold his squad into a winning team, but that wasn’t enough time to rally the troops against Sunderland. Instead of training ground tactics, De Zerbi resorted to a different way to bring the team together. He invited the entire squad to dinner in Mayfair this week in hopes or rallying morale before the match against the club he used to coach, Brighton.
If it works, De Zerbi says he is prepared to buy his guys dinner every week. ”Yes, I don’t know if we win the game for dinner," he said. “I know we eat very well. The food was amazing and if we win, I am ready to pay every week for one dinner. I am positive, I am ready to fight and I believe to keep Premier League [status]. I believe in my words that I said last week. The focus is to win one game,” said the former Marseille boss.
Tudor’s team dinners didn’t work
He isn´t the only Tottenham manager who used this team building exercise. Former interim manager Igor Tudor took the team out for a dinner, but that didn’t lead to a change in form on the pitch. The Croatian signed with Tottenham in the middle of February but won just one of his seven matches in charge, as was let go after a 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest right before the last international break.
De Zerbi is looking to earn Tottenham their first win in the league since December 28th. While he has complete confidence in his squad, he wants them to remember what it feels like to win. “Yes, I think it is crucial to win a game not just for the table. Of course one part of the table for sure, but we have to feel again what is nice to win a game and what it can do. I have no doubts about the quality of the players,” said De Zerbi.
If Spurs are going to get three points on Saturday, they are going to have to do it without club captain Cristian Romero has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out of the rest of the campaign. They come into the weekend two points behind West Ham who are 17th and three behind Nottingham Forest.
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