---
title: "Jan Paul van Hecke reveals what the Tottenham players really think about Roberto De Zerbi"
canonical: "https://readtottenham.com/2026/10/27/jan-paul-van-hecke-reveals-what-the-tottenham-players-really-think-about-roberto-de-zerbi/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Tottenham News"
published: "2026-10-27T11:26:36Z"
modified: "2026-10-27T11:26:37Z"
---

# Jan Paul van Hecke reveals what the Tottenham players really think about Roberto De Zerbi

**Jan Paul van Hecke has featured more often than not for Tottenham this season after joining the club from Brighton.**

The Dutch international has quickly become Micky van de Ven’s preferred central defensive partner and is known quite well to Roberto De Zerbi due to their previous affiliation at the Amex Stadium.

The Lilywhites have won their last two Premier League games to climb out of the relegation zone, with their win against Chelsea one of their best results of the season so far.

And Van Hecke believes the Tottenham players are completely behind De Zerbi and his ideas.

## Jan Paul van Hecke lauds Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi

“I think he is loved. I love him as well! He is a top manager, we are all really happy,” said Van Hecke.

“I know his ideas and how we wants to play, what he wants from me. In the first games we did this as well, but \[on Saturday\] we get better because it needs time, but we did great.

“The results were not what we wanted. We played some really good football in the first games of the season, but the results didn’t come.

> Jan Paul van Hecke on De Zerbi and the win at Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham…\
> \
> “I think he is loved. I love him as well! He is a top manager, we are all really happy.\
> “I know his ideas and how we wants to play, what he wants from me.\
> “In the first games we did this as… [pic.twitter.com/d1p3NeT1G3](https://t.co/d1p3NeT1G3)
>
> — Chris Cowlin (@ChrisCowlin) [October 25, 2026](https://x.com/ChrisCowlin/status/2114430743598244173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

“It all went well \[against Chelsea\], I think you could see our quality. In football there are always good records and bad records.

“(We didn’t think about it) too much, but of course we knew. You see it everywhere. It gave us extra motivation.

“For the fans it is a great day. They were loud and proud and we felt it on the pitch. It makes you give a little more.

“Everyone is buzzing, fully deserved, we worked really hard so we are really happy.”

Tottenham are finally starting to come into their own under De Zerbi to get points on the board.

It remains to be seen how much they progress this season, but it certainly looks like all the players love playing for the coach and the manager, which is a massive sign that the project is heading in the right direction.