The Croatian was unable to steady the ship following Thomas Frank’s dismissal in February, leaving Spurs embroiled in a desperate relegation scrap in the closing stages of the campaign. At the time of writing, the club sit 17th in the Premier League table, just a single point above the drop zone with seven matches remaining. Fans in north London will be hoping De Zerbi can inspire his first-team to steer clear of Championship football come 2026/27 – though he has precious little time in which to do so.
Regardless, the 46-year-old has moved quickly to identify the players who will be central to his plans over the coming months – beginning with club captain Romero. Speaking with NBC Sports, De Zerbi said of the centre-half: « I think Cuti is crucial for us, crucial for Tottenham as a club. He is the captain, he is maybe the most important player in our squad, and to achieve our goal, we need the best of Romero. »
Elsewhere, the head coach also suggested that Richarlison will play a significant role in Spurs’ late survival battle in the English top flight. He added: « Richarlison can play in different positions. He’s a good guy, he’s a clean guy, he’s a honest guy.
« I like him, as a player, as a mentality, as an attitude. In the same position, we can play with different players, but I think, to achieve our target, we need Richarlison in the best way possible. »
An experienced manager who understands the challenges and pressures of the Premier League, De Zerbi enjoyed a largely successful coaching stint with Brighton between 2022 and 2024 before his switch to Marseille. He left the Ligue 1 club by mutual consent in February after their elimination from the Champions League, as he now seeks a new beginning in the capital.
His opening fixture will see him travel with the Lilywhites to the Stadium of Light to face a resilient Sunderland AFC side. The Black Cats have flourished at home particularly this campaign, but managed to hold Spurs to a 1-1 draw away in January’s reverse fixture.
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