The New York Times

Unlike the previous two head coaches in the Tottenham Hotspur dugout this season, Roberto De Zerbi is under no illusions about what he has signed up for.

Eleven days into February, though, Frank was sacked, with the club’s decision-makers jolted into delayed action after a dismal 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United the night before.

A couple of days later, Igor Tudor walked through the door “100 per cent” confident that he could keep Tottenham up. Three weeks into the job, after a 4-1 north London derby defeat at home to Arsenal and a 2-1 loss away to Fulham on successive Sundays, he could not have been more thorough as he scolded the team’s mentality and quality.

“It’s complicated, the situation,” the Croatian said. “Lots of problems. I cannot tell you anything new. We need to find forces inside each of us. I said to the players, ‘It’s always what you want to do with yourself’. More personality. More wish to do. We lack when we attack. We lack quality to score. We lack in the middle to run. We lack behind (in defence) to stay and suffer and not concede.”

After just 44 days, the shortest tenure for a non-interim manager or head coach in the club’s 143-year history, Tudor was sacked having failed to win any of his five league games in charge, and losing four of them.

Now, Spurs have switched to De Zerbi, a coach renowned for an expansive style of football who is now saying he is committed to stripping back his ideas as he seeks to help his new employers avoid a first relegation since 1977.

“First of all, I’m proud and happy to be here,” De Zerbi said on Friday in his first Tottenham press conference. “I have to say thanks to Vinai (Venkatesham, the chief executive) and Johan (Lange, sporting director), because they showed me a big, big confidence. Now I have to work. Now we have to make points. I’m confident about the players’ level — in the past, I was very close to bringing many of them to my former teams.

“They are working very well. I think I’m not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor, because I consider them very good coaches. I try to bring my style, myself, my character, my personality, my passion, to help the players, first of all, to show their qualities, because they have a lot of qualities, and then to achieve our target, because the most important part now is our target.”

As De Zerbi spoke, Tottenham sat 17th in the table, one point above the relegation zone, with seven games remaining.

If they remain in the Premier League next season, Spurs can work to put this campaign’s mess behind them quickly by recruiting in the summer transfer window. And with one of Europe’s most respected training-ground coaches now in charge, prospective signings will undoubtedly be enthused about the opportunity to improve under the 46-year-old Italian’s tutelage.

If they don’t reach that target, Tottenham face the prospect of major sporting and financial complications, with the club’s 2024-25 accounts detailing a worst-ever pre-tax loss and a growing need for cash, despite record revenues.

To avoid that eventuality, De Zerbi has set about promoting a mentality shift.

“Listen, my style is one part about the style of play and one part about the (player’s) character, the personality,” he said. “I have no time to work on the principle or in build-up so much, or in the last 20 metres (the attacking third). I want to give an organisation with the ball and without the ball. Two principles without the ball, something more in possession, in the offensive phase, and that’s it.

“What I want to do, what I want to achieve immediately, is the character, is the right spirit, the right courage to play, to attack. Because the DNA of this club, of this squad, is to find the goal, to score. In this part, I can be able to transfer, not in too much time, my principle.”

The messaging is clear and exciting.

De Zerbi, the best fit for the ‘Tottenham Way’ since Ange Postecoglou, who was fired at the end of last season, believes in the technical quality of the players available to him, name-checking Mathys Tel, a previous target when he was Marseille head coach (who sacked him in February), Conor Gallagher, whom he tried to sign for Brighton, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani as players who have not performed to their potential.

“I think I’m lucky, because I have a big confidence in my players, their qualities,” he added, “and for me, my target is to help them to play well, to enjoy (themselves) with the ball because their characteristics are very clear for me.”

Ultimately, Sunday’s first game in charge away to Sunderland could provide the same rude awakening experienced by his predecessors.

But De Zerbi, unlike those before him, seems genuinely enthused by this team’s ability to win matches — and, having not picked up three points in any of their 13 fixtures this calendar year, perhaps that refreshed belief is what they need.

Tottenham Hotspur are in pole position to sign Andy Robertson as a free agent this summer, subject to retaining their Premier League status.

Liverpool announced on Thursday evening that Robertson, 32, would be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season after nine glittering years at Anfield.

The Athletic reported in January that Spurs had held talks over recruiting the Scotland international but Liverpool were ultimately unwilling to sanction a mid-season departure.

Robertson’s professionalism and commitment to Liverpool were never in question, so a switch would only have materialised if it suited all parties.

His focus on Liverpool means nothing is finalised and there remains strong interest from elsewhere in Europe, but the groundwork undertaken by Tottenham in the winter market and the appeal of the opportunity to Robertson leaves the north London side poised to complete a deal if they avoid relegation.

Spurs are currently 17th in the Premier League table and one point above the relegation zone with seven games of the campaign remaining.

Robertson has been Liverpool’s first-choice left-back for the majority of his time since joining from Hull City in 2017, but has fallen down the pecking order following the summer arrival of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.

He has made 31 appearances in all competitions this season, but started only six matches in the Premier League.

The Scot is expected to captain his country at this summer’s World Cup, where they will face Brazil, Haiti and Morocco in Group C.

Robertson would help address cultural issues at Spurs

Analysis by Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Elias Burke

Tottenham are short on leadership, left-back depth and winners at the elite level — Robertson helps to solve all three areas. The Athletic reported Tottenham’s strong interest in the Scotland captain in January, and they could have done with his qualities in the second half of the season, with injuries to Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie leaving Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor short of depth on the left side of defence.

Robertson has won every major trophy at Anfield, and would therefore bring a winning know-how to a squad who has underperformed significantly in the Premier League for consecutive seasons. While, at 32, he may not be the player he was in his prime, his experience in helping to drive a winning culture in the Liverpool dressing room under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot could prove invaluable as Spurs aim to restore their position as a club competing for European places.

He could also help with the development of 23-year-old Udogie, who has been in and out of the Tottenham side this season with injury, and 19-year-old Souza, who was signed from Santos in Brazil in January and has made four league appearances.

Experienced players were important for new head coach Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton & Hove Albion, and Robertson could assume a similar role. And, given he is seemingly keen to play more football after having a reduced role at Liverpool this term, Spurs, providing they beat the drop, should offer Robertson the chance to share minutes with Udogie and Souza in the coming years.

What is Robertson’s Liverpool legacy?

Analysis from Liverpool correspondent Gregg Evans

Although this comes as no real surprise, it’s still a sad moment for supporters as they prepare to wave goodbye to a club legend.

Robertson’s journey at Liverpool is the embodiment of grit, leadership, and star quality. He was signed with little fanfare but quickly silenced any doubters with his determination and consistency.

His tireless running down the flank, pinpoint deliveries, and defensive tenacity made him indispensable during one of the most successful periods in Liverpool’s history, but beyond achievements and trophies, it’s his character that cements his legacy.

Vocal, passionate, and fiercely committed, he has helped set the standards for years, and even in more recent weeks, he’s continued to remain the ultimate professional with his attitude towards playing and the future.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Premier League experience before his appointment by Tottenham Hotspur amounts to 70 games and 20 months in charge of Brighton & Hove Albion.

It was a rollercoaster ride under the Italian at the Amex Stadium. He steered the club to Europe for the first time in 2022-23, but his departure at the end of the 2023-24 campaign was rooted in disagreements over recruitment policy.

There are pointers to De Zerbi’s playing and leadership style, outlined here by Brighton correspondent Andy Naylor, which fans can expect to see at Tottenham. They start with the last line of defence — or, in De Zerbi-speak, ‘the first line of attack’.

The goalkeeper is an 11th outfield player

“I remember him telling me very early on, the goalkeepers didn’t need to wear gloves in training, I didn’t need to wear gloves and he wanted everything to be with the feet and in possession,” Jack Stern, Brighton’s former goalkeeper coach, says of De Zerbi.

De Zerbi promoted Jason Steele over Robert Sanchez at a crucial moment during the push for Europe in April 2023, due to the former’s precision in possession and better understanding of the best passes to play through the opposition press.

De Zerbi sanctioned the signing of Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht in the summer of 2023 when Sanchez moved to Chelsea. He rotated Verbruggen and Steele in the 2023-24 season (Verbruggen played 27 times across all competitions, Steele 23) to give the Netherlands international time to bed into his demands.

In the first eight games of that season, 96 per cent of Brighton’s goal kicks ended in their own penalty area, an indication of how important the goalkeeper is to De Zerbi’s build-up patterns. De Zerbi said at the time: “Bart can become one of the best keepers in Europe, but Jason knows better our idea of football.”

Verbruggen has gone on to become Brighton’s established No 1 under De Zerbi’s successor Fabian Hurzeler, while Steele was called up to the England senior squad by Thomas Tuchel for the first time at the age of 35 for recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

Considering Tottenham’s goalkeeper issues and De Zerbi’s high regard for Verbruggen and Steele, it would not be a surprise if he tries to sign one of them in the summer.

Set plays are not De Zerbi’s style

De Zerbi had a lot of support staff at Brighton, many of whom had worked with him at other clubs. They did not include a specialist set-piece coach.

Set plays were not ignored by De Zerbi in preparation, but the main concentration was on build-up and open-play scenarios. This was reflected by the figures for his only full season in charge in 2023-24. Brighton ranked 15th in the table with 10 goals scored from set pieces. They also conceded 10 goals, so there was no net gain.

Neighbours Arsenal have amplified the mounting significance of set plays in the Premier League during the period that De Zerbi worked in France with Marseille. De Zerbi has only added fitness coach Marcattilio Marcattilii and development coach Marcello Quinto to his support staff, suggesting he will lean heavily on Andreas Georgson’s existing expertise for set pieces.

Touchline antics

His teams are fun to watch and De Zerbi’s activity in the technical area is equally entertaining. Exasperated yelling when one of his players chooses a bad passing option, rows with officials and the rival bench and extravagant goal celebrations are all part of the theatre.

At least one touchline ban is almost sure to happen at Tottenham. De Zerbi was shown a red card together with Cristian Stellini, Spurs’ interim at the time, after heated exchanges with his opposite number before and during Brighton’s 2-1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April 2023.

De Zerbi had been banned twice that season after four yellow cards and an earlier red card at the end of a 1-0 home defeat by Fulham for arguing in the tunnel with referee Darren England. De Zerbi was in the stands again for Brighton’s 2-1 defeat away to Tottenham in February 2024 after racking up another three bookings.

How he gets on with players

Most players love playing for De Zerbi because his coaching methods improve their understanding of the game.

Former England midfielder Adam Lallana, a Premier League and Champions League winner before joining Brighton, said during an interview with The Athletic in March 2023: “He’s just made football (make) so much more sense to me since he’s been here. I knew what I enjoyed about football and the feeling I got when I was doing it or was involved in a team doing it, but he’s given me reasons for that.”

Lallana’s sentiments were echoed at the end of that 2022-23 season by central defender Levi Colwill, who was on loan from Chelsea as De Zerbi’s side finished sixth in the table to qualify for the Europa League. “His mentality as a manager is world class and he is definitely going to be one of the best managers in the world — if he’s not already,” Colwill told The Athletic.

De Zerbi fostered relationships away from training and matches by inviting his players to his home for dinner on a rota basis and cooking pasta. But with every carrot, a stick is never too far away. De Zerbi does not shy away from big calls. The aforementioned Sanchez refused to sit on the bench after Steele usurped him.

Leandro Trossard went from scoring a hat-trick in De Zerbi’s first game in charge in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool at Anfield to a move to Arsenal four months later. De Zerbi fell out with the Belgium forward over his attitude. “He changes the team, but he has to understand and to work with my attitude, in my way, because I am the coach, I decide the rules inside the dressing room, only this,” De Zerbi said shortly before Trossard’s departure in January 2023.

Relationship with the top brass

Although it ended badly, De Zerbi generally had a good relationship with Brighton owner-chairman Tony Bloom, chief executive Paul Barber and other executives. His passion for the game is laced with warmth on a personal level.

He has strong opinions about the types of players he wants. At Brighton, he wanted more ready-made, established players in their mid-to-late-twenties age bracket. That did not fit with the club’s model of developing young players, aided by a core group of thirtysomethings to show them the ropes.

Tottenham have more spending power than Brighton (both transfer fees and wages) to attract players, but they are competing with other big clubs to land targets. That could become a problem if De Zerbi’s wish list is not delivered.

Enjoy it while it lasts

Tottenham’s desire to appoint De Zerbi immediately to rescue them from the threat of relegation, rather than his preferred option initially of taking over in the summer, put the Italian and his representative in a strong bargaining position.

A five-year contract is extreme — he signed with Brighton for four years. De Zerbi has lasted no longer than 120 matches in top-flight posts in Italy, Ukraine, England and France.

Thrills, spills and entertaining football are virtually guaranteed — but do not expect longevity.

Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach last month has led to discussion and reporting in the UK of his comments about Mason Greenwood.

De Zerbi coached Greenwood at Marseille until the 46-year-old left the club in February. Greenwood, meanwhile, has not played for an English team since departing Manchester United, initially on loan, in September 2023.

Greenwood’s United exit came after a charge of attempted rape — among two other charges, all of which he denied — was discontinued by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service a few months earlier.

While at Marseille, De Zerbi spoke about Greenwood, who the French club signed in September 2024, a few months after appointing the Italian. “I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details,” De Zerbi said. “Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England.”

De Zerbi’s backing of Greenwood prompted multiple Tottenham supporters’ groups to protest against his appointment before and after a deal was agreed.

In The Athletic’s reporting of this, we closed the comment sections. Here, we want to explain why.

What happened with Greenwood while he was at United?

On January 30, Greenwood was suspended by United. A day later, he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault, and then further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill.

Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. All three charges related to the same woman.

He had been due to stand trial in November 2023, but the charges were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in early February 2023. Upon the discontinuation of the charges, the CPS said “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.” Greenwood denied all allegations against him.

As revealed by The Athletic, United initially planned to reintegrate Greenwood back into the first team after the charges were dropped, before protests by fans and staff saw them publicly commit to parting ways with the Englishman in August 2023. He joined Getafe on loan at the start of September, then completed a €31.6million (now $27.5m; $36.9m) permanent move from United to Marseille in the summer of 2024.

Why comments may be disabled on any article

We will always turn comments off on stories where reporting restrictions are in place, out of respect for the legal process in the UK and the individuals involved.

We will also turn comments off on stories that involve ongoing criminal proceedings, because commenters may inadvertently identify individuals who have a right to privacy or pass judgement on the guilt or innocence of an alleged perpetrator, potentially breaching the UK’s contempt laws.

The UK and the US have different laws relating to libel, privacy — including arrests — and contempt of court. Stories relating to the UK legal system must respect those laws.

In the UK, in cases relating to sexual offences, the alleged victim is entitled to anonymity for life, regardless of the outcome of any police investigation.

Why this relates to Greenwood’s case

Due to the sexual nature of the attempted rape charge against Greenwood, the alleged victim is entitled to anonymity. The only exception to that would be if she had waived their right to anonymity, which has not happened. She has not given her written consent and we have to respect that.

Therefore, despite the charges against Greenwood being discontinued, leaving comments open on articles relating to him runs the risk of a commenter trying to identify the woman, which would be an invasion of her privacy and right to lifelong anonymity.

Individuals or publications can face legal action over breaching an individual’s right to privacy and anonymity.

Tottenham travel to Sunderland on Sunday to play their first game under their new manager, Roberto De Zerbi.

His first training session, filmed and posted online, has been pored over as desperate fans look for signs that the club, in 17th position in the Premier League and only one point above the relegation zone, will make immediate progress under the Italian. Players, we’re told, provided glowing reports. Many fans are as upbeat as they have been all season.

But others cannot shake their sense of discomfort at the appointment of De Zerbi, the manager who was in charge when Marseille signed Mason Greenwood from Manchester United in July 2024, restored the forward to a prominent first-team position and frequently backed him during their two seasons together.

Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 and did not play for Manchester United again. He resumed his career away from Old Trafford, first on loan at Getafe, then at Marseille, after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) discontinued the case against him for attempted rape, assault and coercive control. The CPS said “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”. Greenwood denied all the allegations against him.

Why does it matter who De Zerbi signs and backs elsewhere, especially since the Greenwood charges were dropped?

Significant judgment calls are important because a Premier League coach is not some faceless operator. He is the club’s public representative — the face of Spurs. And the board have decided that not only is De Zerbi a suitable figurehead for the next crucial months, but for the next five years.

As one of the 10 richest football clubs on the planet, Tottenham Hotspur, despite their on-field woes, have an outsized opportunity to shape fan culture. They recognised publicly last month that Spurs’ internal culture “requires improvement in a number of areas”. Your leader has to set the tone.

When an appointment like this triggers ‘banter’ in relation to the multiple charges of rape against the former Arsenal player Thomas Partey (charges Partey has denied), you know the concerns raised by fan groups such as Proud Lilywhites and Spurs REACH are legitimate.

Football is a place of escapism. Every football fan has at some point had to choose blindness to the nastier realities of their heroes’ moral codes. One of my favourite players is Paul Gascoigne, a man with a conviction for assault and the subject of a memoir by his former wife Sheryl, subtitled ‘My Life Surviving Gazza’.

I often wonder if I am letting myself off the hook by retaining that awe of Gascoigne, a product of watching and hearing about him in my earliest childhood — long before I could understand topics like these. How much better would it be if there was no need for wilful ignorance, for the suspension of morality? We can and must move towards zero tolerance on this.

People I know and care about in the Spurs community have called, emailed, and direct-messaged me on social media about how much they’re struggling with De Zerbi’s appointment. Ali Speechly, who co-founded Women of the Lane, has spoken out beautifully about her intention to stay away until he leaves.

She says her position is not just theoretical, since his words indicate what Spurs will get as a head coach too: “I do not wish to separate the coach from his attitudes because, in my experience, a person’s values are also a key indicator as to how they will train, manage and lead players.”

Her point is a brilliant one because it emphasises that she understands our fans’ yearning for a saviour, but explains that he is not it.

Certain people will always be hit harder by conversations like these.

One in four women in the UK has been raped or sexually assaulted as an adult. Football fans are not distinct from that group. If you’re reading this on your phone in a public place, look up: you’re almost certainly looking at someone who’s been forced to deal not only with a harrowing violation of human boundaries, but also with managing that for the rest of her life.

Roberto De Zerbi has not inflicted this wrong. But look at the way he repeatedly praised Greenwood during their time at Marseille, and the role he played in bringing the forward to the club. Upon signing, Greenwood said De Zerbi had a huge influence on him moving to the Ligue 1 side.

In his very first interview for Tottenham, he was asked to address this. This was a good step — as was his choice to answer in Italian “because I want to be clear” — indicating he was taking the question seriously. He came across on video in a kindly and empathetic way.

For an apology to provide catharsis, it needs to recognise the hurt caused, express contrition, and show how you won’t let it happen again. Let’s examine his words with that in mind.

He began: “I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly.” Seems like a good start, but it has already lost its way. Why add “or violence against anyone more broadly”? Nobody is accusing him of that. But the phrase plays to all comers. All Lives Matter.

What followed appears comforting but raises more questions than it answers.

“In my life, I have always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk. Those of you who know me well will know that I am not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title.”

The first two sentences are statements of character presented with little evidence. After fairly serious digging online, I couldn’t find any public examples of De Zerbi personally standing up for women’s rights.

De Zerbi’s Sassuolo teams were part of Serie A’s league-wide campaign with charity WeWorld about violence against women and girls, which was launched in 2018. For one round of fixtures each season, many players and staff at Serie A clubs paint red marks on their faces to draw attention to the issue.

When contacted by The Athletic, Tottenham said there were several public and private examples of De Zerbi going above and beyond his coaching roles to support those who are vulnerable, but did not provide any.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust called on De Zerbi to show “visible and sustained support for women’s charities and organisations working to combat violence against women”. This would have been a perfect moment to announce a partnership with or donation to Women’s Aid, say, particularly given that his appointment at Tottenham has enriched him beyond nearly all supporters’ wildest dreams.

There have not yet been discussions at Tottenham about any partnership or donation.

De Zerbi concludes with non-apology bingo.

“I am sorry if I offended anyone’s feelings with this subject matter — I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that, over time, people will get to know me better and will understand that, at that moment, I didn’t mean to take a stance.”

When did you last feel better after someone told you they were sorry if you felt offended? Having bred a woman, met one, or been born to one provides no evidence of your views — women are everywhere, you know?

And to conclude, a little gaslighting: you didn’t understand because you didn’t interpret me correctly. But then, “I didn’t mean to take a stance”.

That is precisely the problem. You should, Roberto.

Comments on this article have been turned off for UK legal reasons.

Kate Mason is a TV presenter and documentary maker who is sitting in for Danny Kelly as host of The Athletic’s Tottenham podcast, The View From The Lane. She has been shortlisted for Columnist of the Year at this year’s SJA British Sports Journalism Awards.

Welcome back to The Athletic’s update on the relegation battle, where our data and tactics writers take a look at the key trends behind the scrap for Premier League survival.

After a three-week pause for the international break and the FA Cup quarter-finals, the Premier League returns on Friday for its decisive final stretch. With the help of Opta’s supercomputer, The Athletic assesses who is best placed to beat the drop.

What has changed since the last gameweek?

The notable scoreline that rippled through the bottom five was Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur.

As shown below, a look at both sides’ expected goals figures for that one would suggest that the game was tighter than the final scoreline suggested, but Tottenham lacked a cutting edge once again. It was a result that compounded misery with Spurs sitting just one point above the relegation zone, and also led to temporary boss Igor Tudor subsequently leaving his position.

The club have since confirmed the long-term appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as they desperately try to keep relegation at arm’s length.

For Forest, that win takes them three points away from the drop zone and also makes it three games unbeaten for Vitor Pereira’s side. They have improved defensively in recent weeks, and there are reasons to be positive that their attack can get them over the line to safety.

Morgan Gibbs-White has found some goalscoring form, but the sight of long-time absentee Chris Wood making a return from injury in Forest’s under-21 game with Newcastle United late last month will only add to the optimism that they have the requisite firepower to stay up.

Despite their position of relative comfort, Leeds may be sweating slightly, despite picking up another useful point at home to Brentford last time out. A dramatic FA Cup quarter-final win at West Ham has also boosted spirits, but injuries to Anton Stach and Joe Rodon could throw the game plan off course.

Aside from the energy of Stach in midfield and the versatility of Rodon across the defence, both contribute handsomely to Leeds’ set-piece output; only Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United has created more chances from dead-ball deliveries than Stach this season, while Rodon has sent eight headed efforts towards goal.

As a team who are heavily reliant on set pieces, without a single open-play goal in their past five league games, Leeds will need to find a new way through compact defences.

Who is looking stronger?

It is hard to look past Forest after that statement win at Spurs. They showed a ruthless streak that has been sorely missed this season, scoring three times from a 1.34 xG figure, their biggest overperformance for that metric in a Premier League match this campaign.

Forest have scored at a rate of just 2.9 goals per 100 set pieces this season, with only Brentford’s number being lower (2.3), yet Igor Jesus emphatically headed home Neco Williams’ pinpoint back-post corner for the opener.

Their second saw them finally capitalise on what has been a fruitful source of chance creation this season: the cutback. Only league leaders Arsenal have created more chances from cutbacks (64) than Forest (58), but when Gibbs-White turned home Callum Hudson-Odoi’s delivery, it was only their third cutback goal of 2025-26, and their first since Jesus scored one against Manchester City in December.

Sustaining this newfound clinical edge will be critical to Forest’s chances. The good news on this front is Wood’s return to fitness. The New Zealand international striker was one of the Premier League’s most ruthless finishers last season, scoring 20 times from an xG of 13.4.

Elsewhere, West Ham’s recent improvement was derailed by a limp 2-0 defeat away to Aston Villa last time out in the league, but they can still take encouragement from their broader run of form. The graphic below shows how the relegation candidates have fared for expected goals created and conceded over the past 10 top-flight games, with the east Londoners creating more than their opponents in half of them.

De Zerbi, on the other hand, has his work cut out as he begins his Tottenham tenure, with their 2-2 draw against second-bottom Burnley the only time in this period that they have generated more than their opponents.

Who has the tougher upcoming fixtures?

Of all the sides still in reasonable danger of going down, it’s the team who sit safest — Leeds — who seem to have the most favourable run-in.

While a trip to arch-rivals Manchester United on Monday is an intimidating start, home games against Wolves and Burnley represent big chances for Leeds to ease their way towards safety. Daniel Farke’s side have picked up almost 70 per cent of their Premier League points in front of their own fans this season, and should have enough, even if they are without regulars Stach and Rodon to rely on.

Forest also have a home fixture against Burnley to come — even if it is three days after the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Portuguese league leaders Porto — but face difficult matches against top-five-chasing opponents in Aston Villa and Sunderland either side of those two games.

That likely brings everything down to West Ham and Spurs, and although Opta’s fixture difficulty rankings lean in the favour of the latter, it is Nuno Espirito Santo’s side who have the chance to land a statement win against Wolves on Friday.

The importance of Spurs’ tricky trip to Sunderland on Sunday cannot be overstated; pick up any points there, in De Zerbi’s first game in charge, and the picture changes once more.

What does the supercomputer say?

Unsurprisingly, Forest’s “six-pointer” win against Spurs has significantly shifted the odds in their favour. Their relegation probability now stands at 8.87 per cent, down from 35.08 per cent, with that defeat pushing Tottenham’s chances up to 26.87 per cent, their highest of the season.

Some comfort for De Zerbi is that West Ham are still deemed more likely to go down than stay up, with their relegation probability at 57.68 per cent, making the home game tomorrow against a practically doomed Wolves side (99.9 per cent) a must-win.

Leeds, meanwhile, as shown below, have hovered around the seven per cent mark for almost a month, edging towards safety through a series of draws. Manager Farke will be desperate for a win at Old Trafford on Monday to finally create some extra breathing room.

It has been more than 100 days since Tottenham Hotspur won a game in the Premier League. Back on December 28, when they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park under Thomas Frank, the biggest concern for Roberto De Zerbi was Marseille’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the French Super Cup .

Brennan Johnson, the hero of last season’s Europa League final, came off the bench in the 85th minute for Spurs and sealed a £35million ($47m) move to Palace five days later. Conor Gallagher was enjoying an extended break before Atletico Madrid’s next game against Real Sociedad while Fabio Paratici was still Tottenham’s co-sporting director alongside Johan Lange. To put it simply, a lot has changed.

Frank was sacked in February and replaced by Igor Tudor, who only lasted 44 days before he left by mutual consent. Now it is De Zerbi’s responsibility to change the team’s fortunes after he signed a five-year contract last month. Spurs are only a point above 18th-placed West Ham United before Sunday’s crucial match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Frank and Tudor both struggled to identify their strongest starting XI and were guilty of constantly changing tactics. The absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski — neither has played a single minute this season due to long-term knee injuries — has starved the team of creativity. Spurs have been punished for their failure to source an adequate replacement for former captain Son Heung-min following his departure to Los Angeles FC last summer. Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Randal Kolo Muani have all auditioned for the left-wing role with mixed results.

Frank had to cope without first-choice striker Dominic Solanke for the majority of his eight-month stint as head coach and experimented with different midfield combinations.

Tudor inherited a squad gripped by an injury crisis and ill-suited to his preferred 3-4-2-1 system.

Pedro Porro and Archie Gray both played in three different positions during Tudor’s brief tenure. By the time he tried to change tactics, the damage had already been done.

De Zerbi has an easily identifiable front-footed style, which can be challenging to implement, and it bears some similarities to how Spurs played under former head coach Ange Postecoglou. In an interview on the club’s website, De Zerbi explained how he “loves possession” and “creating chances” but “it’s not the right moment to speak about my philosophy”.

“I’m here now at the end of the season because we have to win games,” the 46-year-old added. “And in football, the style of play, the tactical disposition, are important. But it’s a mentality, and I would like to help the players to reach the best mentality we can show.

“We have no time to work too much on more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have a good organisation on the pitch with the ball, without the ball.”

De Zerbi replaced Graham Potter as Brighton & Hove Albion’s head coach in September 2022 and left at the end of the following season. The Italian took charge of 68 league games and used a 4-2-3-1 formation for 53 of them (78 per cent). He switched between 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 with Marseille.

If De Zerbi sticks with a 4-2-3-1 setup for his first game against Sunderland, then Simons could be one of the biggest beneficiaries. The Netherlands international fell out of favour under Tudor and did not start last month’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest despite scoring twice against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League a few days before. De Zerbi spent the majority of his playing career in the Italian lower divisions, operating in the ‘No 10’ (attacking midfield) role like Simons. De Zerbi’s teams are often built around passing patterns that feed the ball regularly to their primary playmaker.

Alexis Mac Allister scored 10 goals and Pascal Gross registered nine for Brighton in the 2022-23 Premier League, when they finished sixth. Mac Allister regularly functioned just behind the striker and in front of the midfield duo of Gross and Moises Caicedo. Gross and Mac Allister were encouraged to make late runs into the box while Caicedo protected the defence. Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, Gallagher and Gray all feel like good fits for the Gross role, with Joao Palhinha slightly deeper.

First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is recovering from hernia surgery, giving Antonin Kinsky a chance to redeem himself after a dismal performance in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico. Vicario is a superior shot-stopper but Kinsky is renowned for his quality in possession, potentially making him a more natural fit for De Zerbi’s plans.

De Zerbi likes his goalkeepers to be involved in the build-up. They need to play crisp short passes and have the ability to fire accurate balls over the top of the opposition’s defence. One of Brighton’s trademark routes to goal under De Zerbi involved Jason Steele or Robert Sanchez clipping a deep pass for one of the wingers to chase. It sounds simple, but it was an intricate move that involved baiting the press and pulling defenders out of position.

It is easy to imagine Solanke, who likes to drop deep and shares some attributes with former Brighton forward Joao Pedro, tricking opposition centre-backs with his movement and creating space for Tel and Mohammed Kudus, when he returns from a hamstring injury, to attack. However, Tel is the only natural winger available, with Odobert also out after an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) in February ruled him out for the season. Tudor hinted Kudus might be available after the March international break.

Kaoru Mitoma started his first season with Brighton slowly but flourished following De Zerbi’s arrival. The Japan international assisted Leandro Trossard’s late equaliser against Liverpool in De Zerbi’s opening game and finished the season with seven goals and seven assists in the Premier League. Spurs have found it difficult to create chances throughout the season and it is enticing to think De Zerbi might be able to unlock their goalscoring potential.

Shifting to a back four could have negative consequences for Kevin Danso. The Austria international missed Tudor’s first game against Arsenal through injury and was a substitute in their next two fixtures before starting four in a row. Danso has been the only reliable centre-back due to Cristian Romero’s poor disciplinary record and Micky van de Ven’s erratic form. Romero is the club captain and his exceptional passing range should complement De Zerbi’s vision while Van de Ven’s speed will be integral to the high line.

Brighton made 143 changes to their starting line-up in De Zerbi’s only full season in charge (2023-24). Only Manchester United in 2013-14 and Manchester City in 2019-20 (both 144) have made more in a single campaign. De Zerbi did not name an unchanged side from one game to the next although this was partially due to Brighton struggling to cope with fixture congestion in their first season in European competition. Marseille only made 73 changes in De Zerbi’s debut season, which was one of the lowest in the French top flight, but they were not competing in Europe.

Tottenham’s extensive injury list and exit from the Champions League will limit De Zerbi’s options and narrow the squad’s focus for these crucial seven top-flight fixtures.

Tottenham Hotspur made their last throw of the dice this week, hiring their third head coach of the season in an attempt to escape Premier League relegation.

In doing so, they have created a further fracture in a deeply unhappy fanbase, and drawn heavy criticism from prominent supporters’ groups regarding the character of the candidate chosen to arrest their decline: Roberto De Zerbi.

To some, De Zerbi is an unlikely saviour. To others, an ostracising figure.

It’s a difficult situation within what still threatens to be an historically bad season.

While Tottenham are generally considered among the biggest clubs in England and are certainly among the wealthiest, they have suffered a dreadful year. Thomas Frank, appointed as head coach in the summer, was dismissed in January. Igor Tudor, a left-field interim appointment with no prior Premier League experience, either as coach or player, lasted just 44 days as replacement and failed to win any of his five league games in charge.

Tudor’s final game was a 0-3 defeat to Nottingham Forest that left Spurs in 17th place, one point above the relegation zone. Shortly after full time, Tudor, a former Croatian international who had previously coached Juventus and Marseille, learned that his father had passed away. He returned home to Croatia for the funeral and to mourn.

A week later, he and the club mutually agreed to part, leaving Spurs with seven games to save themselves and a new coach to find.

Enter De Zerbi.

As a coach, he’s highly regarded. Renowned for aggressive attacking football, he has a positive reputation in England, having led Brighton & Hove Albion to the highest Premier League finish (sixth) in their history and qualifying them for European competition for the very first time. He’s seen as emotional and combustible, but still highly capable, and — under the circumstances — was presumed to be out of Tottenham’s reach.

Spurs are historically a big club and would ordinarily be attractive to most coaches, but their predicament limited their options when appointing Tudor’s successor. As such, De Zerbi comes at a financial premium which reflects their desperation — Premier League relegation could cost the club up to £250million ($330m) in lost revenue — but is still seen as a coup in pure sporting terms.

But the situation has been further complicated by the Italian’s entanglement with Mason Greenwood, a former Manchester United forward, who currently plays for Marseille, where De Zerbi was coach between summer 2024 and March 2026.

Greenwood left Manchester United in 2024, having not played for the club since being suspended on January 30 2022. He was arrested on February 1st and then, in October 2022, charged with attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped their case in February 2023 saying there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction” after key witnesses withdrew their cooperation from the investigation and new material came to light. Greenwood denied all the alleged offences.

Manchester United initially attempted to reintegrate the player into their first team. However, following objections by supporters and staff, they decided that his career would have to resume elsewhere. He was loaned to Spanish side Getafe in September 2023 and then sold to Marseille in summer 2024.

Greenwood’s transfer to France provoked a strong reaction. Groups of Marseille fans demonstrated against it and even the city’s mayor, Benoit Payan, urged the club to reconsider, describing the proposed deal as “a disgrace” in an interview with a CNN affiliate.

Nevertheless, the transfer was completed for €31.6m and Greenwood joined Marseille, who had appointed De Zerbi as their head coach a few months earlier, in June 2024. He gave his blessing to the transfer and allowed the player to continue his career.

In November 2025, ahead of a Champions League game against Newcastle United, De Zerbi was asked in a press conference about Greenwood and the rehabilitation of his playing career.

“I don’t want to get involved in anyone’s private life. I don’t even get into the private lives of my children, because I want to give everyone their freedom,” he said.

“All I can see is that Mason seems a good lad, he paid in a strong way for what happened. He has probably here found the right environment for him, which gave him affection, and held out its hand to him.

“When I look at him as a person, I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details. Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England.“

It is these comments that have driven the opposition against De Zerbi.

When his potential hiring was rumoured, a group of supporters’ groups spoke out pre-emptively. Proud Lilywhites, Spurs’ official LGBTQ+ fan group, released a statement entitled “No to De Zerbi”, urging the club to “reflect the values (it) says it stands for”.

The statement continued: “When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals.

“We are proud of the progress that’s been made in making football more inclusive and welcoming. That progress matters, and it cannot be compromised or treated as secondary.”

Another group, Women of the Lane, released a statement with similar wording, saying that:

“De Zerbi has publicly defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of male violence against women and girls. That raises serious questions about judgement and leadership. Clubs signal their values through the decisions they make. Who they appoint matters. The manager sets the tone, every day, for what is expected, what is tolerated, and how people are treated.”

Spurs Reach, the club’s Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage supporters’ association, echoed the sentiment.

“Comments previously attributed to Roberto De Zerbi, including public remarks defending and contextualising Mason Greenwood following serious allegations have been widely criticised for appearing to minimise the gravity of violence against women,” they wrote.

“Regardless of intent, framing of this nature risks normalising harmful attitudes, diminishing the experiences of survivors, and sending a deeply concerning message about what is tolerated within the game.”

With the appointment becoming inevitable, The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) issued their own press release:

“While we recognise the limited pool of managers with recent Premier League experience,” it read, “and the need to act with urgency as Spurs face the prospect of relegation, this appointment raises serious and far-reaching concerns, and many fans have been in touch with us to urge us to communicate the strength of feeling. We raised these concerns directly with the club prior to its announcement.

“The club has previously committed to challenging instances of violence against women and girls and acting with integrity and upholding its values when faced with any incidents. De Zerbi’s comments about Mason Greenwood were unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters and, without doubt, will have left victims of male violence alarmed.”

The statements have drawn a mixed response. There has been significant support from within the fanbase. Similar groups from other clubs across England have issued statements in solidarity. But there has been plenty of opposition, too; angry comments have been directed towards the respective fan group leaders online, by fans who believe the response is disproportionate.

The club were still moved to address the controversy, though. De Zerbi was officially announced as Tottenham’s head coach on Thursday, taking part in an in-house interview during which he was asked directly about the Greenwood episode.

Speaking in Italian, rather than English, he apologised if he had “offended anyone’s feelings with this subject matter”.

“I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly. In my life I’ve always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.

“Those of you who know me well will know that I’m not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title.

“I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn’t mean to take a stance.”

The THST responded positively, issuing a statement on Thursday evening.

“We asked for Roberto De Zerbi and the Club to address the comments. He has done so and apologised for any offence. He has reiterated a commitment to challenge violence against women. This is extremely welcome. The fan base can now fully unite behind him and the team and work together to avoid relegation.”

But Women of the Lane, Proud Lilywhites and Spurs Reach are all yet to respond formally to the interview. Prior to the official announcement, Proud Lilywhites released a further statement, describing their stance.

“Whilst we disagree with the managerial choice, in terms of cultural and competence, we will continue to support the players without pretending to be comfortable with the appointment.

“This is not noise or reaction. It is a considered position and it is not going away.”

And that has not changed. Contacted by The Athletic for comment, a spokesperson for Proud Lilywhites confirmed that this remains the group’s position.

Tottenham will need unity if they are to survive relegation; their situation is desperate and time is running out. But while Roberto De Zerbi has the talent to get them moving forward again, a fanbase enraged and provoked by this season’s many failures is still to reach a consensus on what the price for progress should be.

In his first few months at Rangers, the family home in Kent served as an escape for Mikey Moore. Home comforts, especially his Dobermann, Ty, helped take the 18-year-old’s mind off football.

Moore has long been spoken of as the most exciting prospect to come out of the Tottenham Hotspur academy since Harry Kane but, after joining Rangers on loan in August, he endured a turbulent start to life away from home. At the time, his dad had suggested it might be better to go for a gentler experience than the goldfish bowl of Glasgow — and for a while it looked like his fears were being realised.

Five months on, Moore is back home for a rare few days off, and all he can think about is football, about what he could achieve after he steps back off his return flight back up to Scotland. His dad, Michael, has returned to playing highlights of former Newcastle United, Tottenham, Rangers and England midfielder Paul Gascoigne, which were a big part of Moore’s introduction to football.

“My dad has always told me I remind him of Gazza,” Moore tells The Athletic in his first interview.

“It’s a massive compliment as he’s become one of my idols from my dad showing me his clips growing up. He is something special and done unbelievable things in the game. It’s a big difference to me at the minute but my dad has always said he sees a bit of him in me. He’s shown me his Rangers clips.”

One of them included Gascoigne’s league-winning, final day hat-trick against Aberdeen in 1996 to seal an eighth title in a row. The Ibrox faithful are hoping that Moore’s similar stocky build and dribbling style can inspire a late run to another title this May. “I’ll need to rewatch that one,” smiles Moore.

The idea that he would be part of a title push would have seemed fanciful back in October. Manager Russell Martin had alienated the Rangers support in record time, and the club was in such a dysfunctional state that fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch as a protest. At one stage they had one victory in eight league matches and were 13 points behind leaders Hearts.

Moore was toiling. He was hooked at half-time twice in a fortnight, first against Hearts in a 2-0 defeat and then a 1-0 loss to Genk in the Europa League. Both games were at home and they opened his eyes to just how brutally unforgiving Ibrox can be. In the game against Hearts, there was a moment in the 34th minute in which he lost the ball twice in five seconds near his own box and the crowd went berserk.

“I tried to forget about that!” laughs Moore. “That was a bad day for me. I had a disaster. I could feel the fans getting on my back. Nothing was going right for me. I could have played simpler at times and tried to get myself back in credit. Just keep it and stop doing what I was doing and giving the ball away.

“You can prepare yourself and people can try to prepare you, but once you get hit with it, it’s different. It’s something I’ve never experienced before.

“It was a tough time. I had been dragged off a few times. It was mentally tough to deal with. I could feel it from the gaffer and the fans. I didn’t want to experience too many more days like that. The difference between then and now is madness.”

Moore has become integral to Rangers, playing 40 games in all competitions with six goals and two assists in the league. He could win the club’s player of the year award if he continues his form in these final seven games.

It is testament to Moore’s character that he stuck out the difficult times and eventually flourished, even as some Tottenham fans questioned the choice of loan. Tottenham’s head of pathways and loans, Andy Scoulding, sees it as a validation of the decision to send Moore into an environment with high expectations.

Scoulding spent five years as head of scouting at Rangers and helped construct the side that Steven Gerrard led to the title in 2021 and that Giovanni van Bronckhorst took to the Europa League final the following year. He knows it takes a special character to cope with the pressure at the club.

He called it the ‘Ibrox Factor’: you either grow with it or you shrink. If the goal is to develop Moore into a top Premier League player, there was no point sending him to a ‘normal’ environment. He had to feel pressure.

Scoulding showed him videos of the atmosphere. He now had to prove he could survive it.

“It’s a good way of putting it,” says Moore. “My dad said a similar thing. ‘Are you sure you want to go there, where it’s going to be really tough? You could start off lower and ease your way in’. But I wanted to go somewhere there was a lot riding on it every week.

“I didn’t want to go somewhere we were mid-table and you’re not bothered if you lose. If you lose at Rangers it’s a disaster.”

He knows what he’s talking about. His girlfriend is the daughter of former Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney and their entire family are fanatical Rangers supporters. “After the Celtic game last month (Rangers lost on penalties in the Scottish Cup) she was fuming when I got back in the car. She was giving me a bit. I was like, ‘Leave me alone and stop acting like a fan!'”

Moore has transformed into the team’s main playmaker since Danny Rohl took over as manager in October. It started with a conversation before the German manager’s first game, against Kilmarnock.

“I got called into his office. He said: ‘You’re not starting but don’t worry you’re going to come on, maybe at half time or after 55 minutes, and you’re going to make an impact today’ — and I did.

“He told me I was going to be a massive player for us and, by the end of the season, be one of our best players. Those were his words. It gave me belief in myself and made me feel wanted by him. I wanted to repay that.”

Moore made changes off the pitch which helped bring out his best level.

“I was in a hotel for over a month while I tried to sort out where to stay, so my nutrition wasn’t right. I have a big focus on that now. That’s been massive and I feel a big physical improvement. I feel a lot better. I work with someone day-to-day outside the club with my movement and my nutrition. I’ve changed my diet a lot which is big for me the way I’m built.”

The turning point came in the first week of November. First, he produced a terrific substitute performance in the League Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic, breathing belief into the team while losing and down a man. Then he performed well against Roma. It gave him confidence and he scored in his next two games. Since late December he has cemented his place in the team and produced a standout moment at Celtic Park in January, scoring the third in a 3-1 win.

“We were under the cosh that first half and it would have been easy to go hiding. I knew I had to do something so I kept wanting the ball. There is no point shying away from it as that makes you look worse. That was my reward for keeping going. Not everything came off but the rest was forgotten as I had that big moment.”

After signing, Moore stated that he aimed to become one of the best players in the world. It was the sort of self-belief not common in British players.

“I believe in my talent and I believe I have the ability to do it. I know I’m going to work my hardest to get there. A lot of it is about the mentality you bring to games. It’s always been my dream to be one of the best players in the world. Why be scared to say it?

“At the start of the season it may have looked absolutely stupid when I was playing awfully. Now I’m doing a bit better, maybe it doesn’t look as stupid. But I’ve got time on my hands to try and make that happen. In the next few years we’ll see where I am.”

For now, he is thriving in a 4-2-2-2 formation under Rohl, playing in the inside left channel with the freedom to roam and carry the ball. It has clarified where he is at his best.

“I’ve enjoyed being inside the pitch and making stuff happen on the half-turn, getting at people from there and having options on both sides. My best position is either in that inside left role or as a No 10.

“I feel a lot more responsibility on the pitch now and have learned the game quickly. Maybe I used to get the ball and think I could do whatever I wanted but I’ve learned when to offload the ball and when to be direct. I’ve got to improve my decision-making in the final third at times but I’ve matured a lot.”

At Spurs he faces tough competition to break into the first-team, even with big names out of the picture. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have both missed the majority of the season, while former captain Son Heung-min left in the summer.

“Sonny helped me a lot. He was one of my idols so because we were in similar positions I’d ask him questions in training and I’d work with him on my finishing to be as good off both feet. You see how good he is but how humble he is off the pitch and how he makes time for all the academy boys.

“I used to share the drive to games with Maddison. Well, I couldn’t drive at the time and he didn’t like driving before a game, so we had a player liaison officer take us and we’d have chats in the car. Before I came here he spoke about his time up here (at Aberdeen) and said it would be top for me.”

While he has been developing, Tottenham have been toiling. Roberto De Zerbi has been named their third permanent appointment of the season with the club only a point above the relegation zone. In two months, Moore could well be returning to a Championship side.

“It’s tough to see people you care about and some of your mates going through a tough time. It’s a club I care about so much. For us to be in the position we’re in is not nice.

“Sometimes I wish I could go back and help but there are some top players there who should be able to help get us out of the position we’re in and push on next season. There is enough quality in that team to get out of it.”

Moore has made 21 appearances for Spurs, which he owes to Ange Postecoglou. The Australian manager helped him become the youngest Premier League player in the club’s history and the youngest English scorer in European history when he scored against Elfsborg in January 2025, breaking Jimmy Greaves’ record which had stood for 68 years.

“He showed trust in me by playing me and I could tell he liked me, but I never spoke to him.

“He just said ‘You’re coming on’ against Man City for my debut. For my first start I found out in the meeting two hours before the game when the team was on the screen. He stays quite far away and tries to not have as much of a relationship so that when it comes down to big decisions and he has to leave people out, he doesn’t have feelings.

“Obviously there was a decision made (to sack him after winning the Europa League) by the people at the top of the club but for me it was a bit of a surprise. When we won I thought he would stay and try to build on what he had done.”

Moore wants to build on this season and has his sights set on a first-team spot at Tottenham.

“Whether it’s next year or the year after, I want to break in and make an impact.

“I helped out in some Premier League games and gave a good account of myself and in others I didn’t show enough. But now I’m at a point where I can make an impact. If that opportunity comes I would love to get a hold of it.”

Spurs’ great hope. Rangers’ only hope, some would argue. In second place, three points behind Hearts, can he handle the expectation and be the catalyst for Rangers to claim their second title in 15 years?

“This means everything to me. Last year winning the Europa League was unbelievable but I didn’t have as much of a part to play. I feel a responsibility to try and help the team lift the title. We either end it with nothing or the biggest prize you can win.”

Moore has his own song ringing around Ibrox, a remake of an old classic dedicated to Michael Mols. Last month, 50 members of the Lewis & Harris supporters club made the three-day, 700-mile trip over land and sea from the Outer Hebrides to present him with their player of the year award.

The adoration has them hoping Moore could return for a second spell.

“I’ve thought about this already. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the summer but if it plays out that I’m not going back it’s going to be really tough as I do genuinely love the club and this city. I have made a connection with the fans.

“These last seven games are massive. Every second I’m on the pitch I’m going to make the most of it and leave everything on the pitch.”

New Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has addressed fan criticism over his historic backing of Mason Greenwood.

Before De Zerbi’s appointment, three supporters’ groups — all officially recognised by the club — urged the north London outfit against pursuing the Italian, citing his backing of the former Manchester United forward, with whom he worked at Marseille.

After De Zerbi was confirmed as Igor Tudor’s successor on March 31, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) condemned the decision.

De Zerbi addressed the backlash in a video released on the club’s social media feeds on Thursday, saying he is “sorry if I offended anyone’s feelings with this subject matter”.

“I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly,” he said. “In my life I’ve always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.

“Those of you who know me well will know that I’m not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title.

“I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn’t mean to take a stance.”

De Zerbi frequently backed Greenwood publicly as a player and a person after the forward joined Marseille from United in summer 2024, when the 46-year-old was head coach of the Ligue 1 side.

While playing for United, Greenwood, who came through the academy at the Premier League club, was arrested on January 31, 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault, and further arrested on February 1, 2022 on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill.

He was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. All three charges related to the same woman.

He had been due to stand trial in November 2023, but the charges were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in early February 2023. Upon the discontinuation of the charges, the CPS said “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.” Greenwood denied all allegations against him.

After a loan spell at Spanish side Getafe, Greenwood joined Marseille shortly after De Zerbi’s appointment as head coach in July 2024.

De Zerbi left Marseille on February 11 after less than two years, the same day Spurs sacked Thomas Frank. The former Brighton & Hove Albion coach has taken over at Tottenham with the club 17th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone.

In a statement in response to De Zerbi’s interview, THST said: “We asked for Roberto De Zerbi and the Club to address the comments. He has done so and apologised for any offence. He has reiterated a commitment to challenge violence against women. This is extremely welcome. The fan base can now fully unite behind him and the team and work together to avoid relegation.”

The three fan groups which urged the club against De Zerbi’s appointment — Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs REACH — have all been contacted by The Athletic for comment.

De Zerbi has agreed a five-year deal with Spurs, and insisted that he will be at the club next season “no matter what.”

Asked about his footballing philosophy, De Zerbi replied: “I think it’s not the right moment to speak about my philosophy of football. I’m here now, at the end of the season, because we have to win games.

“In football, the style of play, the tactical disposition are importnat. But there is a mentality, and I would like to help the players reach the best mentality they can show.

“I signed five years of contract because for me its a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.”