Overview
- De Zerbi, appointed Tuesday on a five-year deal, said there is no relegation exit clause and promised to remain next season.
- Tottenham sit one point above the drop with seven league matches left, starting with De Zerbi’s debut at Sunderland on April 12.
- Supporter groups including the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, Women of the Lane and Proud Lilywhites oppose the hire over his past defence of Mason Greenwood, and De Zerbi said he did not mean to downplay violence and expressed regret.
- The new manager faces a thin squad after reports of a shoulder injury for midfielder Pape Sarr and ongoing absences for Guglielmo Vicario, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
- Italian reports relayed by Goal say Spurs have granted De Zerbi unusually broad control over football operations on a long contract, pointing to a shift from the recent head-coach model.