What Roberto De Zerbi told Tottenham stars in training is both exciting and worrying
Roberto De Zerbi has already made an impression in his first Tottenham training session, with some of his ideas exciting supporters while others may leave them a little uneasy.
Tottenham Hotspur now have a third manager in the dugout this season following Igor Tudor’s departure last week.
With very few low-risk interim options available and the club sitting just one point above the relegation zone, Spurs moved quickly to appoint Roberto De Zerbi on a long-term deal, making him one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League.
The Italian has already taken his first training session at Hotspur Way after his arrival was confirmed earlier in the week, giving him just over a week to prepare the side for his first game in charge against Sunderland.
It has since been revealed that the players were left very impressed by the Italian, and footage released by the club shows exactly why.
Roberto De Zerbi’s first Tottenham training session leaves strong impression
An extended clip from Tottenham’s training session showed exactly what Roberto De Zerbi has been demanding from his players.
The Italian had already revealed in his first interview that he had closely followed Spurs this season, which explains why he was heard repeatedly shouting “one touch, one touch” before adding: “One or two touch. With two touch it is impossible to lose the ball because we are five to pass against two. Enjoy, enjoy but you have to move. Enjoy with the ball.”
“A lot of teams now they come man to man. Man to man, you need to pass the ball. It’s important, one touch, two touch.”
The emphasis on quick passing and movement is a clear shift from the slower, more static build-up Tottenham showed earlier in the season, and is likely to be welcomed by supporters. However, not everything De Zerbi said will excite fans.
“Keep the ball, keep the ball. Attract the pressure. Attract the pressure,” he was heard saying at one point.
“The speed of the ball possession, the opponent decides our speed. When they are coming in front, we need to be faster in moving the ball, giving angles, giving solutions.”
While this approach is central to De Zerbi’s philosophy, it also comes with risk, particularly for a team that has struggled when playing out from the back in recent months.
Spurs team news ahead of Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge
There were several notable absentees from the training footage, including Cristian Romero, who is expected to be resting after returning from international duty.
Pedro Porro and Pape Sarr were also missing, with the latter dealing with a shoulder issue. Of course, there is a chance that some players were simply not pictured in the very limited video, so fans shouldn’t worry too much yet.
Guglielmo Vicario is unlikely to return for a couple of weeks following hernia surgery, which will open the door for Antonin Kinsky. The young goalkeeper has endured a difficult spell, but his ability with the ball at his feet could suit De Zerbi’s system better.
Tottenham are also hopeful of a timely boost, with Mohamed Kudus expected to return to training later this week ahead of the trip to Sunderland.
The post What Roberto De Zerbi told Tottenham stars in training is both exciting and worrying appeared first on Spurs Web.