Tottenham fans will be over the moon with the ambitious statement Roberto De Zerbi has made as he prepares for his first full season in charge of the club.
The Italian has only taken charge of seven matches so far in North London, but he has already acquired hero status among the Tottenham faithful.
That is not only because he saved the club from relegation, but also due to the spirit and passion he brought with him to the club, which was desperately crying out for someone who could unite the fan base.
As he prepares for his first full campaign in North London, De Zerbi has made it clear that one thing will be very different in his Tottenham side than the one we saw last season.
Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham will adopt a different style of play
While there was a marked improvement in Spurs’ attacking play after De Zerbi walked through the door, we still did not see the kind of free-flowing football that we saw from him at Brighton.
The 46-year-old has now explained that he did not have time to focus on style last season, but suggested that we will see the side playing very differently at the start of the new campaign.
De Zerbi told Tottenham’s official website: “Last season, I think we reached the target showing character, showing the right spirit. Now we have to push in the style of play, the quality of the play and the organisation.
“It was totally different because in the seven games at the end of the season you have no time. It’s not the right way to push too much the principles of play.
“Now we have time, we have everything in the right way, right place and the right position to work and to become better and better and better in the quality of play.”
De Zerbi wants Spurs to compete for the summit of the Premier League
Unlike some of his predecessors, the Italian is also not shy of spelling out his big ambitions ahead of the new campaign.
De Zerbi insisted that he wants Tottenham to compete for ‘the top of the Premier League‘ and that he feels a big responsibility to help the club reach their target.
He added: “I think Tottenham deserve to compete for the top of the Premier League. I know very well the Premier League is very tough but if you have a good motivation inside of the players, a good organisation on the pitch and outside of the pitch, I think you work well and at the end you reach your target.
“I feel a big responsibility because they (the fans) loved me at the beginning in my time at Tottenham and it is a pleasure to be Tottenham coach. At the same time, I feel responsibility to give results, to give pride when they are in the stands and when we are on the pitch and to build a great Tottenham.”