Roberto de Zerbi is proving himself to be a ‘world-class coach’ with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur eyeing the Brighton and Hove Albion manager, Seagulls ace Adam Lallana tells talkSPORT (15 March, 5pm).
Remember when Daniel Levy sacked Jose Mourinho two years ago and spoke openly about his desire to find a coach with ‘Spurs DNA’?
One ‘whose values reflect those of our great club. Playing football with the style for which we are known – free-flowing, attacking and entertaining – whilst continuing to embrace our desire to see young players flourish from our Academy’ (Sky Sports).
That Levy then hired Antonio Conte – a win-at-all-costs sort of coach who values experience over youth and cares little for aesthetics – highlighted the muddled thinking behind the scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But if Conte is the antithesis of the sort of man Levy professed to wanting, the opposite is true of Roberto de Zerbi.
Could Tottenham replace Antonio Conte with Roberto de Zerbi?
(De Zerbi is a) world class manager,” says Lallana, who has worked with the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Graham Potter and a certain Mauricio Pochettino.
“It was never going to be easy for him to come in when we were doing so well under Graham. So the way he has changed (things) and put his own stamp in midway through a season…
De Zerbi has arguably taken Brighton to a whole new level since stepping into Potter’s shoes. His future at the Amex is already in doubt, however, with Sky Sports claiming that a man who earned the admiration of Pep Guardiola during his time at Sassuolo one of the leading candidates to take Conte’s place.
De Zerbi shares far more in common with Pochettino – Spurs’ most popular head coach of the modern era – than either Conte, Jose Mourinho or Nuno Espirito Santo. His Brighton side play some of the most pleasing football in England, maybe even Europe, while the presence of 18-year-old Evan Ferguson up top shows that De Zerbi buys into the ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ way of thinking.
“He has got his methods across quickly,” Lallana adds. “It is so evident. You can really see a specific style of football. I suppose that just makes it a little bit more appetising to come and watch.
“I am so lucky at this stage in my career that I have crossed paths with Roberto.”
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