FULL PRESS CONFERENCE (Including Embargoed Section): Roberto De Zerbi: Sunderland v Tottenham

[0:12] Roberto, many congratulations on your appointment. Have you enjoyed your first week at Tottenham Hotspur? [0:17] Yes, first of all I'm proud and happy to be here. I have to say thanks to Vinay and [0:26] Johan because they showed me a big, big confidence and now I have to work. Now we have to make [0:37] points. I'm sure about the level of the players because many players in the past I was very, [0:48] very close to bring them in my former teams. They are working very well. I think I'm not [1:00] better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor because I consider them very good coaches. I try to [1:08] bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my passion to help the players. First of all [1:18] to show their qualities because they have a lot of qualities and then to reach to achieve [1:25] our target because it's the most important part now is our target. [1:31] It sounds like they've enjoyed your training too. Now you've worked with them for a week, [1:35] are you even more confident that you can keep this huge club in the Premier League? [1:42] Yes, yes. I knew before to work with them. I understood they are good guys. The fans, [1:54] they have to be happy because all players are good guys. They are suffering from this difficult [2:04] situation. I want to see on the game because during the week is easier. But I think the voice inside [2:17] of the pitch has changed. I observed them at the beginning of my time last week and now I'm positive for sure. [2:34] Many, many Spurs fans are very happy with your appointment. If there are some that are still [2:40] having concerns, what is your message to them? [2:42] I have no message because also in the last game against Nottingham Forest, they were fantastic [2:52] before the game. The message is for my staff, for my players. We have to deserve their support. [3:05] Because the fans are suffering like us, like the players. But for the fans there is just one club, [3:15] just one team. The players can change team, club, but for the fans it's unique their club. [3:25] So we have to make happy our fans playing well, with the right spirit, with the right attitude, [3:37] with the right behaviour on the pitch. And then I think it's easier to make points. [3:45] Roberto, welcome to Tottenham. I suppose the big question on a lot of people's minds is [3:52] why do you take on this job at this particular time? Because of course the club are locked in a relegation battle. [3:58] So why now? Why now? Because you can consider, depending on your angle, you look at the situation. [4:11] From my perspective, it was a big opportunity because Tottenham is one of the most important club in Premier League. [4:20] Premier League is the best league in the world. I love the qualities of the players. We have a lot, a lot of specific players for my style. [4:36] And then there was a crucial part. There was 12 days before the first game. And for me it was important to have not too much time, but 10 days, more than one week. [4:55] I thought it would be important to understand the problems. I don't want to give too many principles, too many instructions on the pitch if we are speaking about just football. [5:12] But organisation with the ball, without the ball. And I hope in one week, 10 days, to reach this target for me. [5:25] Obviously, you and the club have been hit with a big blow, knowing that Mohamed Kudus has suffered an injury. [5:30] Can I just confirm, what's the nature of the injury? And does it rule him out for the rest of the season and maybe even the World Cup? [5:37] Yes, I started not to be lucky, but Kudus was, in my head, a crucial player, especially for the position. [5:58] But we have to forward anyway. I think we have a lot of very good attackers and we have to help them, to put them in the best condition to show their qualities. [6:13] Because Colomoni, I know, is not playing a great season, but he's a good player. [6:20] I know him like Matisse Tell. I wanted him in Marseille when I was in Marseille. [6:29] Xavi Simons is a big talent. Richarlison Solanke, you know, maybe better than me. [6:34] And so we have to put them in the best condition we can. [6:43] And how is Guglielmo Vicario doing after his hernia surgery? Can any other players come back for this game against Sunderland? [6:48] No. Vicario is not ready for this game. I hope he can be back earlier, next week, but I don't know yet. [7:02] Betancourt is working with us, but not completely. But we are enough to fight, to play and to make points. [7:17] Hi Roberto, welcome back to England. Good to see you again. Good to see you as well. Very good to see you. [7:26] And you must be very confident about keeping Spurs up, because we understood there is no break clause in your contract if they were to go down, is that correct? [7:37] No. Listen, I believe to keep the Premier League. First of all, it has to be clear for everyone, because I want to work in Premier League, and I think I deserve to work in Premier League. [8:01] But the main sense of my work is more than League. And anyway, if I sign my contract in April, I have to be ready to stay no matter what in the next season. [8:22] So I want to stay focused on Sunderland and the other six games again. But my idea is very clear. [8:39] There's been talk much of this season about some of the players maybe wanting to leave in the summer. Is that part of your job as well? Because you've said, I'm staying here. I want to convince them to stay as well. [8:53] No, no, no, no. It's not important for me now. Now we have to push all together, all players, all staff, all people inside of training ground, all fans inside of the stadium to achieve our goal. [9:11] And then we will see. For sure, I don't want players if they don't want to stay. My contract is for five years. For sure, I want to say my opinion in transfer market session, because I am a coach. [9:33] But to see the players happy to work in this club. [9:41] My final question. You mentioned your style quite a few times. It was good to watch at Brighton, I have to say. And Spurs fans like a certain style going back to the 70s with Glenn Holden and Ozzy Ardiles and right through. Your style and Spurs, are they the ideal marriage, the ideal fit? [10:02] Listen, my style is one part about the style of play and one part about the character, the personality. I have no time enough to work in the principle or in build up so much or in the last 20 meters. [10:22] I want to give organization with the ball and without the ball, two, three principle without the ball, two, three principle, four more, something more in ball possession in offensive phase. [10:39] And that's it. What I want to achieve immediately is the character, the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack, because the DNA of this club, of this squad is to find the goal, to score. [11:09] And in this part, I can be able to transfer, not in too much time, my principle. Thank you. [11:23] You know a lot of these players from the outside. Are there any in this last week of training that have surprised you when you've seen them really up close and personal? [11:35] Maybe younger players like Archie Gray, Lukas Berg-Vell? [11:38] In the last period I watched a lot of games, especially of Tottenham. Yes, one thing is to watch the game at home and the different things is to work with them on the pitch. [11:57] We have very big players, young players, Berg-Vell, Archie Gray, Matisse Tell, Xavi Simons. But anyway, we have older players that are very important. [12:18] Van der Waen, Van der Waen is a crucial player for me. Like Romero, like Porro, like Solanke. I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea time. [12:39] And I think I'm lucky because I have a big confidence in my players, in their qualities. And for me, my target is to help them to play well, to enjoy with the ball because their characteristics are very clear for me. [13:04] You've only brought in two coaches with you that you've worked with. I think you normally bring at least six, seven people that you know with you. Does that make it any more difficult to get your ideas across when you don't have people you know around you? [13:26] Well, it's totally different this situation. Because we have no time to work like in Brighton time or in Marseille or in another place I've been. And I don't want to put fusion inside of the players. [13:46] They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction, not too much to think. They have to run. What is the ball? [14:00] They have to play with courage, with personality and they have to fight. Just for me, my demand is to show the right spirit I want to see. [14:17] You've signed a long contest. Normally at clubs, you've spent a certain amount of times at different clubs, maybe not long, long term. What makes you think that Tottenham is the one that maybe you settle down for longer? [14:29] Well, I don't know. I stay three years in Sassuolo and then I left from Ukraine when the war started. In Brighton I left for different problems and in Marseille maybe the same. [14:55] I would like to stay four or five for a long time. I don't know how many years. But in Marseille like this. Because in Marseille my idea was to stay for a long time. [15:09] And then you have to stay for a long time. And when you have different views of football or the other things, you have to leave money and you have to leave. [15:28] But in my plan, for sure, there is the idea to stay for a long time. To try to put Tottenham. I'm not speaking about the titles, but because it's not a right moment now. [15:48] But to put Tottenham to stay in the first position in Premier League. Because there are all parts to reach that level. [16:08] Alright, we'll end the broadcast section there. Move on to the embargoed section for 10.30pm tonight. Go ahead, no microphone. [16:37] How much? The focus is just on Sunderland. The focus is to take my focus on the game of Sunderland. And then Brighton, then Wolverhampton. [17:00] The quality of the players, they know the situation is very difficult. If you watch Liverpool at Tottenham, if you watch also Atletico Madrid in Madrid, I think they show their qualities. [17:44] They show sometimes the right spirit. And we have to show 90 minutes and we have to believe in ourselves. Because the most important part in football is the mental part. [18:02] You are used to speaking too much. You are used to speaking too much about the style of play, the physical disposition, blah, blah, blah. By the end, the mental part is crucial. [18:13] And every work, especially in football, especially in this moment, working very, very well. No surprise, but it's not normal, no? After, I don't know, we didn't win too many games in 2000-2005. [18:49] And we haven't won any games in 2000-2006. And so, you can imagine the atmosphere inside of the dressing room, of the training ground, but it's not like this. [19:07] I saw the players. I saw the players with energy, with the passion. When in the meeting room, we have spoken about football, about two, three principles. [19:21] They were on focus. So, I'm positive for that. [19:32] Listen, good question, because I didn't speak yet with him, because I think he doesn't need to speak too much. [20:02] I have confidence. He has to be strong, but he's strong enough. He has to show what he can do. Not more, not less. [20:15] And I think his qualities are enough to play Tottenham. Players, the other players believe in him. And he has to stay calm, in confidence. [20:33] He is playing in Tottenham. So, he has to be strong. Stronger than the mistakes. And to move on more. [20:47] One part, the focus on the ball, on the pitch. To put them in the best position, the favorite position they feel, for sure. And the mental part. [21:31] I think, for Gallagher, it's not so easy, because he left from Chelsea. After, I don't know how many seasons, he went to Atletico Madrid. [21:46] Now, in Tottenham, in this moment, for Tottenham, he was a leader in Chelsea. And now, he has to adapt a new club, a new teammates, new stadium, new everything. [22:02] And I have to help him to put as a target, the Gallagher in Chelsea. And the other players, the position on the pitch. Kudus was one player, because he already knew what I demand for the winger. [22:23] And all players, one part, mental side, and one part on the pitch. And to give more solutions when we have the ball. And change the focus from the defensive phase in offensive phase. [22:42] Because if we have to concede a goal, we concede a goal. But the DNA of these players, of this club, of these players, is to keep the ball and to try the condition to score. [22:54] Not to be worried about it. [23:01] Because we need to win the game. [23:45] No, no, you can't find the right answer in my history. Because I left a lot of money in my life. And the money were changing my focus on my work. [24:02] Because I was in Marseille. Marseille was a special place. I didn't say goodbye yet to my former fans, my former club. [24:19] Because I didn't want to make any polemic. And in that moment, it was good to stay at home. [24:26] For me, it's not a problem, this situation for Tottenham. When you come in this club, you have not to decide depending on the situation in that moment. [24:48] You have to be a longer vision. Normally now, the focus is on this season, these seven games, to keep the Premier League. And then we will see. [25:02] Give us an idea of what you have been doing for 10 days since you came. [25:10] I have had a lot of meetings, individual meetings with the players. I spoke with every players. Analyze Sunderland, because after tomorrow there is a game, because Sunderland is playing a great season. [25:43] Very good players, very good coach. Time to think to other things. Just football, just meeting with the players, just to organize and to transfer and to find the right way, the best way to transfer my idea. [26:09] Two, three, not too many ideas, but two, three ideas I want to see on the pitch on Sunday. [26:19] Tell us anything, principal? [26:27] After Sunday, I call you and I explain. [26:32] Necessarily tactical? [26:35] No, tactical, tactical. Tactical with the ball. I want to keep the ball. I want to see again that Tottenham, I watch it with Poster Koppel. [26:50] Because in the first season, when I was in my second season in Brighton, there was Poster Koppel here, with a lot of these players. And it was the best team in terms of quality of play. [27:12] With Pedro Porro, with Udoge, with Van Der Wijn and Romero in build-up. To see again. [27:23] Finish with Sam, please. [27:32] I prefer this part, no. [28:03] No. [28:07] I'm surprised. [28:08] I'm a little bit disappointed. [28:09] Because I'm surprised if someone has felt offended. [28:13] But I have to repeat what I've said the other time. [28:18] And on this topic, I'm very sensitive, very touched. [28:25] A little bit for me. [28:26] A little bit for me. [28:27] A little bit for me. [28:28] A little bit for me. [28:29] A little bit for me. [28:30] A little bit for me. [28:32] And I have to repeat what I've said the other time. [28:35] I've always been against. [28:39] Every type of violence, especially women. [28:44] But not only violence, but also the jokes. [28:47] Or the jokes. [28:48] Or the sexist. [28:49] I have a female daughter. [28:52] And this thing I touch myself in person. [28:58] But I know who I am. [29:00] I know what I have. [29:01] I know what I am as a person. [29:02] So, I don't have to worry. [29:04] It's only a little bit disappointed. [29:06] It's all. [29:07] I wasn't surprised. [29:08] I was a bit sorry that it happened. [29:11] And I apologize if somebody took offense with that. [29:16] But I need to repeat what I've already said. [29:19] Because it's part of who I am. [29:22] I'm very touched by this situation. [29:25] I have a daughter. [29:26] And I've always, I need to repeat this. [29:28] I've made it clear. [29:29] And I want to make it clear again. [29:30] I've always been against any sort of violence. [29:32] Or even just sexist jokes. [29:34] Or anything against women. [29:35] That's part of who I am. [29:38] And especially because I have a daughter. [29:41] I know very well this. [29:43] As well. [29:44] And I'm touching. [29:45] Like directly. [29:46] I know what my values are. [29:47] So I wasn't surprised. [29:49] And I'm sorry if offended. [29:51] But if anything I was a bit sorry that it happened. [29:55] I was. [30:05] I was. [30:06] I'm sorry. [30:07] I'm sorry. [30:08] I'll leave the situation. [30:09] Yes. [30:10] I'm hoping we can move on. [30:13] Also because I'm certainly not going to go back on this topic. [30:15] I spoke about it in my first interview. [30:16] I'm speaking about it again. [30:17] Now I'm hoping we can move forward. [30:19] Thank you very much. [30:20] Thank you. [30:21] Thank you. [30:22] Thank you. [30:26] Thank you. [30:27] Thank you. [30:28] Thank you. [30:29] Thank you first for being from the US Financial Science!" [30:30] Thank you. [30:31] Thank you. [30:32] Thank you for being here. [30:33] Thank you. [30:34] And I think that's actually the history. [30:35] I'll do a hiç problem. [30:36] Absolutely. [30:37] Yes. [30:38] I'm hoping we can move on. [30:39] Also because I'm certainly not going to go back on this topic. [30:43] I spoke about in my first interview, I'm speaking about it again. [30:44] Now I'm hoping we can move forward. [30:45] Okay. [30:47] Thank you very much. [30:48] Thank you. [30:53] Thank you. [30:54] Thank you. [30:56] Thank you.