Photo: TVSEI / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi says he is "very happy, very proud and very positive" about the club's transfer activity ahead of the 2026/27 season, with further additions still expected. The Italian made the comments in his first interview of the new campaign.
Six players have joined the club so far this summer: Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. De Zerbi said the recruitment is not complete.
"I think we are building a very good team, with some very important new players, and we starting the project in another part of the history of the club," De Zerbi told SPURSPLAY. "Now we have to finish as it's not finished yet, our transfer market, in and out, but at the moment I'm very happy, very proud and very positive."
De Zerbi joined Tottenham on a long-term contract on 31 March, with the club in a precarious Premier League position. He oversaw 11 points from the remaining seven games to secure top-flight survival.
The coach said that short run-in did not allow him to implement his preferred style of play, but he now has a full pre-season to do so. "Last season, I think we reached the target showing character, showing the right spirit. Now we have to push in the style of play, the quality of the play and the organisation," he said.
De Zerbi stated his belief that Tottenham should be competing at the top of the Premier League. "I think Tottenham deserve to compete for the top of the Premier League. I know very well the Premier League is very tough but if you have a good motivation inside of the players, a good organisation on the pitch and outside of the pitch, I think you work well and at the end you reach your target."
Beyond results, De Zerbi outlined a broader vision centred on the character of his recruits. "Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Senesi, Robertson, JP van Hecke, all of them are very important as qualities of the players, for sure, but first of all as a quality and level of the person," he said.
De Zerbi acknowledged the weight of supporter expectations. "I feel a big responsibility because they loved me at the beginning in my time at Tottenham and it is a pleasure to be Tottenham coach. At the same time, I feel responsibility to give results, to give pride when they are in the stands and when we are on the pitch and to build a great Tottenham."