Tottenham are set to play their first game under Roberto De Zerbi. They will face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League on Sunday.
With relegation looming large, this is a must-win game for the north London side. With West Ham’s emphatic win over Wolves on Friday, Tottenham are in the relegation zone. Only a win would make them climb out of it, with the Hammers currently two points above them.
Spurs players will have to put in much better performances under De Zerbi than they did under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.
Club captain Cristian Romero appears set to do so, having been impressed by the Italian.
Cristian Romero opens up about De Zerbi at Tottenham
The former Marseille and Brighton manager has had around 10 days of training at the north London side. However, Tottenham players are already impressed with De Zerbi’s training methods. Romero’s recent comments appear to have backed these reports as he praised the Italian.
When asked if he likes to play under coaches with a lot of passion, the Argentine centre-back told Sky Sports:
“Yes obviously, I’ve had all kinds of coaches over the last few years and he’s [De Zerbi] a coach with a lot of passion.
“But like I said, as well as the passion that he brings, on the pitch, he is a coach who knows a lot. In these few days that I’ve had with him, you can already see the difference on the pitch. You can see the smiles again.”
“Obviously, Sunday will dictate it with the game against Sunderland when we go there, but I think we’re going to be good with him. And we have enjoy it, prepare in the best way, understand how he wants us to play, and leave everything on the pitch on Sunday,” he added.
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De Zerbi also labeled Romero a “crucial” player in an interview earlier this week. Hence, their comments hint at a cohesion that Tottenham have lacked under their last two managers.
Romero will be key for Tottenham’s hopes of survival
When Spurs won the Europa League last season, Romero was named the Player of the Match in the final. He was also named the Player of the Season for the entire tournament. His performances and leadership were crucial for Tottenham, especially in the knockout games.
With seven games remaining, one could also consider this a knockout stage in the Premier League for Spurs. They need their captain and arguably their best player to stand up and garner some results. Romero has also scored four goals in 22 league games this season, earning two points in three games.
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Moreover, with De Zerbi’s playing style focused on passing and composure, a centre-back like Romero is the perfect fit.
The two also appear to be aligned in their view towards football and the situation. Hence, Tottenham will look to the Argentina international to get them through the relegation battle.
