Conor Gallagher has shed light on the behind-the-scenes influence Roberto De Zerbi has had since taking charge at Tottenham, describing how the Italian has reshaped the mood within the squad.
Even when Spurs were at their lowest point this season, flirting with relegation, De Zerbi never wavered in his belief that the club could survive. That conviction has since filtered through to both the dressing room and the fanbase, with back-to-back wins over Wolves and Aston Villa lifting Tottenham out of the bottom three.
The victory at Villa Park was particularly encouraging — one of Spurs’ most well-rounded performances of the season, and a sign that De Zerbi’s methods are beginning to take hold. Among those methods, the manager reportedly encouraged some players to revisit their own highlight clips online as a way of rekindling self-belief.
Gallagher spoke warmly about the individual attention De Zerbi has given to players, including private one-on-one meetings aimed at restoring confidence. He told Football.London that the manager has been excellent in bringing the group together, working with players both individually and collectively on the training pitch and in team settings, with the whole squad now pulling in the same direction.
De Zerbi had previously made clear he wanted Gallagher to return to the heights he reached during his best period at Chelsea, and the midfielder looks to be fulfilling that ambition. He was superb against Villa in an advanced role, and De Zerbi afterwards said that Tottenham feel like they have an extra man on the pitch when Gallagher is at his sharpest.
