I'm Not Better Than Frank Or Tudor - Spurs Boss De Zerbi

Tottenham head Roberto de Zerbi says he is "not better" than predecessors Thomas Frank aliases Igor Tudor arsenic he prepares to return complaint of his first crippled astatine nan Premier League strugglers.

Sunderland will beryllium Spurs' first opponents nether nan Italian, who was appointed connected 31 March pinch nan nine 1 constituent extracurricular nan relegation area pinch 7 games remaining.

De Zerbi is Tottenham's 3rd head of nan play aft Frank and Tudor - nan second only lasting 44 days and 7 matches successful nan role.

"I americium proud and happy to beryllium present and I person to opportunity convey you to Vinai [Venkatesham] and Johan [Lange] because they showed maine a big, large confidence," said De Zerbi connected Friday.

"I'm judge astir nan level of nan players because I was very, very adjacent to bringing galore of these players to my erstwhile teams successful nan past.

"I deliberation I americium not amended than Frank aliases Tudor because I see them very bully coaches.

"I effort to bring my style, my character, my characteristic and my strengths to execute our target, which is nan astir important portion now."

Tottenham person not won a home convention crippled successful 2026 and only 2 since 26 October 2025.

They were besides knocked retired of nan Champions League successful nan past 16 by Atletico Madrid 7-5 connected aggregate.

Since 1950, Spurs person only spent 1 play extracurricular nan apical flight, which was backmost successful 1977-78.

"For me, it was a large opportunity because Tottenham are a very important nine successful nan Premier League and nan Premier League is nan champion convention successful nan world," said De Zerbi, who antecedently managed Brighton betwixt 2022 and 2024.

"I emotion nan qualities of nan players and nan important portion that location was 12 days earlier nan first crippled and for maine it was important to person much than 1 week. I thought it would beryllium important to understand nan problems.

"The connection for my unit and players is that we person to merit nan support because nan fans are suffering for illustration us. But for nan fans, location is conscionable 1 club. The players tin alteration but for nan fans, their nine is unique.

"We person to make them happy pinch nan correct tone and nan correct behaviour connected nan pitch. Then it's easier to make points."

Tottenham recreation to nan Stadium of Light to look 11th-placed Sunderland connected Sunday (14:00 BST kick-off).