Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto de Zerbi has stated that the club’s recent transfer activity brings “zero pressure” despite significant spending. De Zerbi’s comments followed an interaction with an Arsenal-supporting taxi driver who questioned the club’s expenditure.
The Italian manager explained that other top clubs, including Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal, have also spent considerable amounts to maintain their competitive edge. He emphasised that to compete at the top, it is necessary to acquire top players, which Tottenham is currently doing.
Transfer Activity and Player Acquisitions
Tottenham has made several notable signings in the current transfer window. The club initially broke its transfer record by signing Matheus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham. Days later, they surpassed that record again with the acquisition of midfielder Sandro Tonali for £100m from Newcastle.
In addition to these record-breaking transfers, Tottenham also secured Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m. The club further strengthened its squad with free-transfer signings, including Marco Senesi from Bournemouth, Andy Robertson from Liverpool, and Martin Dubravka from Burnley.
De Zerbi was asked about the ambition of Tottenham given these investments. He indicated that he would provide a more complete answer once the transfer market officially closes. He also mentioned that he aims to bring in two to three more players before the transfer window shuts, specifically seeking additional attackers.
Clarifying ‘Bomba’ Comments
De Zerbi also addressed earlier comments he made about an “imminent transfer ‘bomba’,” which had led to considerable online speculation among fans regarding a potential new offensive signing. He clarified that the word “bomba” in Italian has a different connotation than “bomb” in English.
He explained that for him, players like Tonali, Matheus Fernandes, Senesi, and Robertson are considered “bomba” because they are top players for the club. De Zerbi reiterated that the club needs to complete the transfer market and that the players arriving in the coming days are, in his view, top players.
The manager also spoke about the importance of completing the squad, suggesting that the expectation for new players might be higher than a few days prior. He stressed the need to focus on the good of the team, the club, and the squad as they move forward.
Player Fitness and Youth Development
De Zerbi provided an update on the fitness of James Maddison and Matheus Fernandes. Both players missed an open training session ahead of Saturday’s friendly match against Chelsea at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. De Zerbi stated that he is not taking risks with their fitness, particularly as Maddison experienced a long injury last season. He highlighted that it is not the right time to take risks with players, especially those returning from injuries or who had a demanding schedule with a World Cup summer and a full Premier League season.
The head coach also touched upon the role of youth players within the squad. He noted that young players have received significant minutes in Tottenham’s initial three preseason matches. This approach is partly due to De Zerbi’s cautious stance on risking players returning from long-term injuries during preseason.
De Zerbi emphasised the importance of re-establishing the pipeline between the Spurs academy and the first team. He explained that for a club like Tottenham, producing players from the academy is crucial for financial fair play regulations, especially when competing in the Champions League and other European competitions. He named Luca Williams-Barnett, Malachi Hardy, and Mikey Moore as potential promising players from the academy, indicating his commitment to their development for the club’s present and future.
The team is currently preparing for their friendly match against Chelsea in Sydney.
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Source: bbc.com
