Adam Lallana insists there is ‘not even a doubt’ in his mind Roberto De Zerbi will keep Tottenham in the Premier League.
The Italian was confirmed as Spurs’ new manager on Tuesday having penned a lucrative five-year deal with no relegation clause.
3
De Zerbi takes over a Tottenham side sitting 17th in the Premier League and one point away from the relegation zone.
Spurs’ alarming predicament makes De Zerbi’s appointment a risky one for the manager himself and the club given the finances involved.
But Lallana, who made 45 appearances under De Zerbi at Brighton, believes his former boss will know exactly how to get a tune from a squad evidently low on confidence.
Rob’s on the job
When asked by Ally McCoist and Tony Cascarino on eSPORTY Breakfast whether De Zerbi would keep Tottenham up, Lallana quickly replied: “Definitely. Not even a doubt in my mind.
“I just think they’re very, very fortunate. I’m actually slightly jealous. I was speaking to a player at Spurs who was picking my brains about him.
“I just know they’re going to be in for a rollercoaster, but a great one.”
Having been a part of the Brighton squad that finished sixth in the 2022/23 season and qualified for the Europa League under De Zerbi, Lallana is well-acquainted with his methods.
The same goes for legendary Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the coach who Lallana played under the most throughout his career.
Klopp stands as one of the Reds’ greatest managers in history having won the Premier League, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the Champions League among other trophies during his 491-game stint at Anfield.
Given Klopp’s status as one of modern football’s elite managers, even if he is on a hiatus from coaching having become Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer, Lallana is better placed than most to provide a comparison.
3
Even though the two may be on different tactical wavelengths, there’s one striking similarity between Klopp and De Zerbi that Lallana was quick to point out.
Same, but different
“I always compared him (De Zerbi) with Jurgen, actually,” Lallana said.
“Probably just the passion that they both possess for the game.
“I think tactically and game mode-wise, they’re completely different. But in terms of love and passion for football, they’re exactly the same.”
As Lallana experienced at Brighton, De Zerbi likes to have his teams play on the front foot and take the game to their opponent.
However, the Italian’s philosophy is not something his players typically download instantly.
3
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk previously summed up De Zerbi’s first two weeks in charge of the Seagulls as ‘carnage’ and ‘baffling’, two words that are problematic given Tottenham’s situation.
De Zerbi’s no snob
However, Lallana is adamant De Zerbi won’t be delusional to think he could have Tottenham playing the brand of football he wants in such a short amount of time.
Instead, Lallana believes the Italian’s biggest power in the infancy of his north London stint will lie in his motivational skills, something he became quickly aware of at Brighton.
“Roberto’s an extremely smart man,” Lallana said.
“He’ll know he’s not got time to play a certain way, a certain style. He won’t be snobbish to not understand that. He knows he’s got to go in there and motivate a group of men.
“Luckily for Roberto, he might not know that but he’s one of the most inspirational managers and people there is, in my opinion.
“After five minutes of him speaking in our first meeting when he joined Brighton, I was on board.
“I have no doubt he’d be able to emulate that at Spurs.”
De Zerbi’s first game in charge of Tottenham is on April 12 as they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
