Roberto De Zerbi has sent a bold message to Tottenham Hotspur fans ahead of the new Premier League campaign, declaring that the club shouldn’t simply be looking to build on last season’s struggles but should instead be aiming to compete at the very top of English football.
The Italian has only taken charge of seven matches since arriving in north London, yet he’s already won over the Spurs faithful through his passionate approach, attacking mindset and the job he did steering the club clear of relegation. Taking over during one of the toughest spells in Tottenham’s recent history, De Zerbi quickly reignited belief around the club, and his knack for reconnecting the team with its supporters has made him an instant fan favourite heading into his first full season.
Despite promising signs late last season, De Zerbi admits fans haven’t yet seen the football he ultimately wants his side to produce. The former Brighton boss explained that survival had to take priority immediately after he arrived, leaving little room to properly install his tactical ideas. With a full pre-season now behind them, he believes his players finally have the time to absorb his methods and start playing the kind of football that’s earned him praise throughout his career.
Rather than focusing purely on results, De Zerbi wants Tottenham to be known for quality, structure and attacking football that’s easy on the eye, insisting the groundwork is now in place to sharpen the team’s performances at both ends of the pitch.
He was candid about last season’s limitations, noting that inheriting the job with just seven games left gave him no real chance to introduce anything tactically ambitious while the priority was staying up. With proper preparation time now on his side, he’s aiming to build a team capable of consistently delivering the kind of exciting football his sides have become known for — blending technical quality with organisation and intensity to compete regularly with the league’s best.
The most striking part of his comments came when addressing his ambitions for the season ahead. Rather than setting cautious targets, De Zerbi insisted Tottenham belong at the top of the Premier League table. He acknowledged the scale of the challenge in England’s top flight but argued that the right mentality and tactical discipline can take the club much further than many currently expect, with everything starting from building a winning culture where every player is fully invested in improving daily.
De Zerbi also touched on the bond he’s already formed with Tottenham’s supporters, admitting the backing he’s received since joining has left him feeling a real sense of responsibility to deliver both performances and results. He wants fans to feel proud watching this Tottenham side and is determined to build a team that lives up to the club’s history and ambition, rather than settling for anything less.
With Tottenham having already spent heavily this summer on new arrivals, optimism around the club keeps building, and De Zerbi’s latest comments will only raise expectations further — survival is clearly no longer the target. If he manages to get his attacking style working and the new signings bed in quickly, Spurs fans will hope this is the start of a new era competing among the Premier League’s best once again.
