Tottenham Hotspur face a big test at home against Leeds United. After a tough win over Aston Villa, Roberto De Zerbi will need his team to stay sharp if they want to keep their winning run going. This article looks at three key things De Zerbi has to do to secure all three points against Leeds on Monday night.
Tottenham Hotspur will look to continue their good form under Roberto De Zerbi when they face Leeds United in one of their final home games of the Premier League season. Spurs are currently just one point above the relegation zone, which makes Monday night’s match even more important as they try to move further away from danger.
No matter what happens in West Ham’s game against Arsenal on Sunday evening, Tottenham know they must take advantage of playing at home and return to winning ways in front of their fans.
Results have started to improve under De Zerbi in recent weeks, though, and after winning back-to-back league matches for the first time this season, Spurs will head into the Leeds clash with growing confidence.
Here are three things De Zerbi has to do to beat Leeds…
Roberto De Zerbi should maintain Tottenham’s high-pressing style
The plan for beating Leeds United was already clear in Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa. From the start of the match, Spurs played with high energy, pressed high up the pitch, and made it difficult for Villa to play out from the back. That aggressive approach helped Spurs stay in control for long periods and forced Villa into mistakes in dangerous areas.
A big reason why the press worked so well was the energy in midfield, especially from Conor Gallagher. The midfielder covered a lot of ground, pressed Villa’s defenders constantly, and helped the Lilywhites win the ball back quickly whenever possession was lost. His intensity also helped set the tone for the rest of the team, as Tottenham continued to play with confidence and aggression throughout the game.
However, Spurs will need to reach that same level again against an in-form Leeds United side. Leeds are unbeaten in their last six league matches, picking up three wins and three draws during that run. Their recent 3-1 win over Burnley also showed how dangerous they can be when they play with confidence and momentum.
That is why Tottenham must start the game strongly and keep pressing with intensity from the first whistle. Leeds on the other hand, like to play with speed and energy, but they can struggle when teams press them high and give them little time on the ball. If Spurs keep the same aggression and work rate they showed against Villa, they can force mistakes and give themselves a strong chance of taking all three points.
De Zerbi should rely on Tottenham’s wide players
Another important part of Tottenham’s game against Leeds United could be the use of their wide players. With Leeds likely to keep things tight in central areas, Spurs may find more joy attacking from the wings, where players like Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani can use their pace and movement to create problems.
That was something Tottenham did well aganist Villa. Tel was dangerous on the left side throughout the match, using his speed and crossing ability to create chances for his teammates. On the other wing, Kolo Muani stretched Villa’s defence with his direct running and dribbling, which helped Spurs push the opposition deeper into their own half.
Their movement out wide also gave Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie more space to join attacks from full-back. As Villa focused on stopping Tel and Kolo Muani, gaps started to appear in other areas of the pitch, allowing Tottenham to move the ball forward with more freedom and create better attacking positions.
A similar approach could work well against Leeds on Monday. If Spurs can move the ball quickly to the wings and allow their wide players to attack defenders in one-on-one situations, they could create the openings needed to break Leeds down and secure another important result.
De Zerbi should slowly bring James Maddison back into the team
Tottenham fans could see the return of James Maddison against Leeds United, with the midfielder getting closer to full fitness after a long injury layoff from a serious knee problem picked up in pre-season. This could be the right moment for him to make a short appearance from the bench and take his first competitive minutes in a long time.
Because of how long he has been out, De Zerbi has managed his recovery carefully, keeping him in the squad but not rushing him back too soon. He knows Maddison is a very important player, but he also understands that he should not rush him back too quickly. Instead, he wants to slowly help him adjust again to the speed and demands of top-level games.
That is why a short 20-minute appearance near the end of the game would be a good idea, helping him slowly build sharpness and confidence. That return could also give the Lilywhites something extra in attack if the game becomes tight. With other creative players like Xavi Simons and Dejan Kulusevski still dealing with injuries, Maddison’s vision could offer a different option in the final stages of the match.
If he is brought back in this controlled way, it will not just help Spurs against Leeds, but also help him build fitness for the remaining games. Gradually getting him up to speed could be important as Tottenham look to finish the season strongly.