Tottenham fans will be excited by Roberto De Zerbi’s revelation about the sort of Spurs side we can expect to see next season.
The Italian had to firefight with the squad he inherited in the final seven games of last season and successfully achieved his first objective of keeping them in the Premier League.
He has subsequently been backed by the club in the transfer window, as he continues to mould the squad to his liking ahead of his first full season in charge.
We have already seen glimpses of the possession-based, attacking style that De Zerbi wants to implement in pre-season, and he has now shed light on how he wants his players to approach each game and training session.
Roberto De Zerbi wants the Tottenham players to play with total freedom
De Zerbi has already said that we will see a very different Spurs side this season to the one we saw in the final seven games of last campaign.
He explained that there was no time to implement his style in the midst of a relegation battle, and that he will use pre-season to get his ideas across to the squad.
When asked to explain his brand of football and his philosophy, the Italian told Football.London: “Testa, head and cervello, brain, that’s it. All day, because football is based on every single day. Football is not like the light switch, you switch on one, and then you switch off. You play consistently. There are the right moments to enjoy, where they have to do what they want without rules.
“I don’t love rules. I read a book where it was written that creative people don’t follow any rules. I would like creative players. I don’t want to set any rules. Just a couple, two or three at most. In terms of players being together, I am not a policeman, not with my children. Freedom, totally freedom.
“One is one. You are like me, or like kit man, the same. But every day we have to push, every day we have to deserve to stay here or to play football or to earn the money we earn. It’s not normal. We have to respect the luck we have had in our life.
“Me as a player, as a student at school, when I felt the relationship with the teacher, with the coach, I was able to give my best. If I didn’t feel the connection, if I didn’t feel he appreciated me, the teacher, or a coach, I closed my head (mind), we start a war!
“I think it’s good, especially for the new generation. The young players, no? If they feel the coach loves me, the coach appreciates me, as a player, as a guy, I think they are in the right condition, in the better condition, to show who they are.”
De Zerbi insists he will not shy away from a fight
Just because he gives his players plenty of freedom on and off the pitch does not mean that he will be a pushover.
There were reports of some senior Tottenham players having disciplinary problems last campaign, and De Zerbi made it clear that he has no issues putting his foot down when he has to.
When asked what will happen if the players take advantage of his trust and the fact that there are not many rules, the Spurs boss said: “What you want to know, if I punch the player? Nothing, but I know to be stronger when I have to do something,” he said.
“For example, if you are thinking with Marseille in the dressing room, I’m nice when I have to be nice, and I’m strong when I have to be strong. If there is the sun or rain, no, but if I understand that it is the right moment to be strong, I become strong, for sure. Without doubt or without too many thoughts.”