44 days. Here is Igor Tudor’s life on the Tottenham bench. Roberto De Zerbi, who is in talks with Spurs, plans to last much longer if he ever accepts the job. L’Evening Standard announces that a final decision is expected during the day by London leaders. The latter started very far away in the negotiations since the former coach of Olympique de Marseille wanted to return to service from this summer, in order to start again on a project from the start of the season. But Tottenham’s insistence paid off and RDZ began to review its position. Yesterday, several media considered serious announced that the Italian is seriously discussing with the English club, who offered him his bench and a five-year contract with a huge salary.
Indeed, he would be the second highest paid coach in the Premier League behind Pep Guardiola (Manchester City). We had to put the resources and the hand in our pocket to try to convince the native of Brescia to embark on this anything but simple mission. Spurs are currently 17th in the Premier League, with 30 points on the clock. They only have a lead over West Ham (18th, 29 points) a few days before the end of the championship. If RDZ says yes, he will have seven matches to avoid the worst for the Londoners. Although he knows the Premier League perfectly, having officiated successfully at Brighton, De Zerbi, who will have a clause to leave in the event of relegation, is not necessarily a firefighter on duty.
A mission that is not cut out for RDZ
His potential appointment is not unanimous. In addition to the refusal to see him on the Spurs bench from several LGBTQI+ associations, including Proud Lilywhites, who did not appreciate that he publicly supported Mason Greenwood (accused of domestic violence), other fans who launched a campaign “No to De Zerbi”. Other voices are being raised to contest this choice from a footballing point of view. On Sky Sportsthe elder of the house, Tim Sherwood, confided on this subject:“For anyone who commits now, you have to be careful, because there are only seven matches left. I like it, I really do. I like his personality. I said several months ago that he would be the ideal man to join Tottenham. In the long term, I would have preferred him to Mauricio Pochettino. »
He continues: “He plays the style of play that Tottenham fans appreciate. It opens the game. But this style is no longer necessary now. What they need is a reliable coach. However, this is far from reliable. I still love him. I love his personality and the way his teams play. But they can be vulnerable and get crushed during certain matches. We can’t afford to get crushed by the end of the season. » Danny Murphy agrees. “I really enjoyed watching his Brighton team and I think a top 7 finish, synonymous with European qualification, was a successful season from him. This is not necessarily the criterion to follow to then coach a supposedly more prestigious club, like (Graham) Potter who failed by moving from Brighton to Chelsea. »
Dyche’s profile fit more
The former Spurs added: “His first season in Marseille was good, he played great football and once again qualified his team for Europe. We know that his teams play great football. He demands it. I was lucky enough to see him lead a few training sessions at Brighton and I have to say it was impressive. He took charge of everything, the session was intense, they played following the lines to the letter, they were all out, he pressed them, bam bam bam. You really felt like he was in control and they were working for him. I appreciate his strong character and his firmness. Some will say that he is too confrontational and that he sows discord wherever he goes. If we compare his weaknesses and leadership to those of Thomas Frank, he is the complete opposite, perhaps even to the extreme. I think if he goes out there and tries to make Spurs play like his Brighton team, they could go down. »
Murphy continues: “if we consider the club’s long-term future, it makes sense to find a coach who plays quality football, who has charisma and energy, and who knows how to unite the supporters. For me, no candidate really stands out in any of these categories. If you want a dynamic and successful coach, there is no one on the market who can guarantee that and keep us in the Premier League. You know, if you recruit someone who plays pragmatically, the chances of success are slim. I think they like him (De Zerbi) for the long term and are counting on him to keep them in the Premier League, whatever the cost. But if you asked me, for the next seven matches, if I would prefer to have Dyche rather than De Zerbi, I would say yes. »
The Italian is already contested
Darren Bent is also worried about RDZ, who has already attracted the wrath of some fans even before sitting on the bench. “It’s an interesting situation. I really like De Zerbi, but a lot has been said about his unconditional support for Greenwood. This is an issue to consider before you even begin. I like De Zerbi, I think he’s a good coach, but when a new coach arrives, you need that little boost. Even if only 10% of supporters protest, they make a lot of noise, we have to listen to them. I would say Sean Dyche is the man for them. » Attacked from all sides, Roberto De Zerbi nevertheless has some support, which is rare to come forward at the moment. Jamie O’Hara, interviewed by TalkSportis one of them.
“I’m a bit annoyed and upset at the Spurs fans who don’t want it. What planet do we live on? He is a leading manager in the Premier League. He plays fantastic football. He’s in the business, he knows the Premier League, he’s in great shape… we’re not talking about Harry Redknapp. I don’t understand this argument. We are recruiting a high quality coach who will arrive and live up to our expectations since leaving Brighton. I don’t understand this preconceived idea that we think we are too good for Roberto De Zerbi. It’s absurd. The fans need to stop complaining. » Unlike Marseille, where he was welcomed with open arms, Roberto De Zerbi will not arrive on conquered ground in London if he ever says yes to Tottenham.
