Tottenham Hotspur fans will be very excited about what one former Spurs star has said about his experience working with Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian has not taken long to win over the Spurs squad as well as the fan base, bringing a disjointed club together with his passion and determination.
The likes of Micky van de Ven have admitted that they are loving De Zerbi’s style of play and are confident that the Lilywhites will have a much better season than they did last time out.
Many Spurs players have credited the Italian with restoring their confidence, while several of Tottenham’s summer signings have credited De Zerbi with convincing them to make the move.
Kevin Prince-Boateng believes Tottenham now have the best coach in the world
Former Spurs midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng, who now lives in Sydney, ran into the Tottenham boss during the Lilywhites’ pre-season campaign.
The Ghana international arrived at White Hart Lane at a very young age and struggled to fulfil his potential in North London, and he has now admitted that his struggles were down to off-field distractions.
Boateng told Tottenham’s official website about his time at the club: “Yes, I was 20 years old. Wow, it was the wildest time of my life. 20 years old, earning a lot of money, being lost in London. It was crazy.
“Sometimes I can’t even call myself a Spurs player because I was more in the nightclubs than I was at the training ground! It was all an experience, and I had a great time.
“I just hope Spurs can do a lot now with De Zerbi, for me, the best coach in the world. Even today against Chelsea, you could see the quality in the first half. The club did something great to bring him in.”
When asked about his time working with De Zerbi, Boateng said: “Yes, I was with him in Sassuolo, for six months. He made me play so well that I signed for Barcelona! He’s the best.”
Boateng reveals what sets De Zerbi apart from other coaches
The 39-year-old explained that while different managers have different strengths, such as man-management and the tactical side of the game, De Zerbi ticks all the boxes.
He described the Italian as a perfectionist and insisted that he inspires both love and respect from the players.
When asked what makes De Zerbi so good, Boateng said: “It’s very difficult to find a manager who is both great on the field, tactics-wise, and as a human. There are a lot of coaches that only have one of those characteristics. He has both, and more. He’s like a real, real best friend, like a father to young players and he’s just the best on the field.
“The way he wants to play football and the perfectionism. You can see what it means to him. You can go and ask every single player in the dressing room. They all love him. There’s not one who doesn’t like him. It’s for sure. I guarantee that. We have a strong, strong relationship and a lot of respect.”