Roberto De Zerbi’s message to fans in first press conference as Tottenham manager

Things in North London have hit a critical stage with Tottenham on the brink of relegation. They went into the International break on the heels of maybe the worst loss in what has been a disastrous season, and came back from the break with a new manager.

No message from De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi was brought in to play the savior role for the final seven match days of the season after a disastrous interim stint under Igor Tudor. Tottenham won just one of their seven matches under the Croatian manager, and that win was the second leg of a Champions League tie which they entered trailing Atletico Madrid 5-2 after the first 90 minutes.

A change was needed before things got any worse, and the change finally came on March 31st. Since then we have been waiting to hear from the former Brighton and Marseille boss. He made his first appearance in front of the cameras on Friday and had one message for the fans. “I have no message because in the last game against Nottingham Forest, they were fantastic before the game. The message is for my staff and players,” said the Italian.

There was a large section of fans who were planning a protest against the club, and it’s hierarchy for the dreadful season they have been suffering through. Instead the supporters groups decided to delay the protest and support their side in a match that had massive implications in the relegation race. Spurs ended up losing that game 3-0 at home with many fans leaving before the halftime break.

Mending relationship with fans

After spending two years in England with Brighton, De Zerbi knows the importance of Tottenham in the first division of English football knows he and his players owe it to the fans to turn things around. ”We have to deserve their support because the fans are suffering like us, like the players.”

He made a reputation for himself in the Premier League not just for his attacking style of play, but also for his results. He led Brighton to a 6th place finish in his first year on the job, and gave the club their first year of European soccer. The campaign in the Europa League seemed to have an effect on on their league campaign the following year and Brighton finished 11th before Marseille came calling.

Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 in his first year, and returned the French side to the Champions League, but things went south this season and De Zerbi parted ways with Marseille. Now he can play the hero to a Tottenham side that is in despair. He will make his debut against Sunderland on Sunday and the fans will be hoping to see a change not just in results but in attitude of the team.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.