Tottenham are teetering on the edge of Premier League relegation this season. After 31 games, they are 17th, just a point above West Ham United.
In a final roll of the dice, the north London side are close to appointing Roberto De Zerbi as manager. He is set to become their third manager this season after Thomas Frank and interim manager Igor Tudor. The Italian faces a huge task of keeping them up.
Not only is the club in a precarious situation in the league standings, but they are also going through a major injury crisis. The likes of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison appear far off from returning, while Wilson Odobert is recovering from an ACL injury.
However, they are hoping to get a few players back soon, namely Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur. They could be crucial in the remaining games if Tottenham are to avoid relegation.
On that note, let’s take a look at 5 Tottenham players who might succeed or suffer under De Zerbi.
Tottenham players who might succeed under Roberto De Zerbi
Cristian Romero
Now this could be controversial, considering it’s a match-up of two volatile characters. However, purely based on football, if De Zerbi can get Romero to respect him a little bit, the duo could work.
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De Zerbi’s football is based on baiting the opposition press and playing through into their half or the attacking third.
Among the currently fit players, Romero is arguably Tottenham’s best passer. His line-breaking passes, or diagonals, along with the general composure on the ball, would suit De Zerbi’s style perfectly, akin to Jan Paul van Hecke at Brighton.
Rodrigo Bentancur
Bentancur has faced plenty of criticism this season. He put in multiple poor performances under Thomas Frank, especially when paired with Joao Palhinha.
However, the Uruguayan midfielder has shown his capabilities in navigating tight spaces and playing under pressure in the past for Spurs. While Yves Bissouma is perhaps the best dribbler in midfield at Tottenham, Bentancur brings a good combination of dribbling and passing.
If he could find his pre-Thomas Frank form and get paired opposite Archie Gray or Pape Matar Sarr, Bentancur could become the most important player under De Zerbi.
Tottenham players who might suffer under Roberto De Zerbi
Destiny Udogie
Destiny Udogie is a good carrier of the ball but suffers in quick passing and can often give the ball away.
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De Zerbi’s system also requires plenty of rotations between players, which could help Udogie, as he did under Ange Postecoglou as well. However, interchanging positions without taking care of the ball could often lead to conceding transitions or counterattacks.
Lucas Bergvall
The young Swede was named Tottenham’s Player of the Season last season. However, he’s struggled this season, as he had to play as a #10 under Thomas Frank.
While Bergvall is an excellent box-to-box midfielder, he can sometimes be guilty of poor touches and not taking care of possession. Moreover, since his recent return from injury, the Swede has also struggled in both his appearances.
Djed Spence
The Englishman has a similar issue to Udogie and Bergvall in terms of their struggles in possession. This season, Djed Spence has been in poor form, which is true for most Tottenham players, to be fair.
However, Spence has been guilty of not releasing the ball at the right time numerous times, especially after going on a run. While this could help progress the ball, his decision-making can not only lead to a chance being blown, but also lead to counterattacks.
In a system built on crisp, precise, and quick passing, any player who struggles with passing under pressure in tight positions will struggle. This could be further enhanced by the low confidence in the squad and the lack of time De Zerbi will get to instill his ideas.
Tottenham, however, would be hoping the Italian and his staff manage it and get them some much-needed wins in their last seven games.
