Roberto De Zerbi has made a very interesting statement about his relationship with the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy.
Many of De Zerbi’s predecessors did not have the best of relationships with the club’s leadership, particularly towards the end of their spells at N17.
However, this is now a new Spurs leadership, headed by CEO Vinai Venkatesham, who is dismantling the hierarchical structure built by Daniel Levy and empowering the staff at the club.
Additionally, the club’s hierarchy has put their money where their mouth is and shown that they are prepared to back their manager with the players he wants.
Roberto De Zerbi says he does not want Tottenham to lose money
The Tottenham boss appears to have got his first-choice targets so far, even though the club have had to pay a premium to get those players.
De Zerbi has now admitted that he is very pleased with how he and the leadership are working together, insisting that he will not pressure the club to do deals which will not make financial sense for them.
When asked about his relationship with Venkatesham, Johan Lange and the rest of the Spurs board, he told Football.London: “We are working very well, it’s my best connection with the board. Also in the players we sold, because for Vuskovic it was together.
“The request of Vuskovic, we spoke with Vinai, with Johan together, because I consider my job? No, I consider Tottenham, or my club, the money of my club, I consider my money.
“It’s like the owner is my father. You don’t want to spend money, to ask your father to spend money or to lose money. And if we bring a player, if we sell a player, it’s one family.”
De Zerbi says Spurs are starting on a five-year project
While De Zerbi acknowledged that no manager’s job is ever safe, he made it clear that he and the club’s hierarchy are working on a long-term project rather than taking decisions with just next season in mind.
He acknowledged that to build a successful long-term project, the Lilywhites have to get as good at selling players as some of the other big clubs across Europe.
The 46-year-old added: “We are starting for a plan of five seasons, five years, [but also] maybe two, maybe two months, maybe two days, because in football you never know.
“But at the beginning we are building the plan for five seasons and I think if you spend big money for one old player, it’s not the right solution. So if I ask, if my request is not right for the policy of the club, I can’t ask, but I have to understand before to ask the club, no?
“Or, OK, we are spending money, but we are spending money for the plan, for the project. In this part of the history of football, they have to be good on the pitch, but they have to understand the financial part.”
“I think the top clubs now, they are not worried about selling players. No. Even Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, when they have to sell, they have to sell. Right price, you don’t have to be shy. But when you have to spend money, you have to do that. Strong, fast, quickly, the right player, the right investment.”