Roberto de Zerbi has spent the summer integrating six new signings into his squad, marking a fresh chapter for Tottenham. Having successfully steered the club away from relegation after his arrival in March, the manager is now focused on elevating the team’s performance with the benefit of both time and financial backing.
De Zerbi first gained widespread recognition in the Premier League at Brighton in September 2022, where he introduced tactical concepts that earned high praise from across the game. At the time, Pep Guardiola famously described him as one of the most influential managers to emerge in the last two decades. His primary impact centered on his unique approach to build-up play, characterized by center-backs holding the ball to draw out opposition pressure before executing precise, one-touch passing sequences through the midfield.
While these methods were highly effective in 2022, the landscape of the game has shifted as opposing coaches have developed strategies specifically designed to nullify his tactics. In response, De Zerbi has been actively evolving his approach during the pre-season, though he retains the core philosophy of meticulous possession in the defensive half.
A key tactical challenge for Spurs has been navigating the narrow defensive blocks favored by opponents. During a 3-0 pre-season victory over Hoffenheim, the German side utilized a compact 4-4-2 mid-block to congest the center of the pitch. In these scenarios, Tottenham typically adopts a 4-2-4 shape on the ball. By shifting the ball between central defenders, Spurs forced the Hoffenheim defensive unit to move laterally, creating gaps that could be exploited.
The positioning of Tottenham’s full-backs plays a crucial role in this process. By standing wide, they force opposition midfielders to vacate central areas, providing space for Spurs to play vertical passes. Once the ball reaches forward players, the wingers—often engaged in one-on-one duels—are encouraged to attack with pace and directness, either shooting directly or setting up teammates.
Against teams employing a 5-4-1 defensive structure, such as Getafe, De Zerbi has utilized different mechanisms to create space. One method involves the two holding midfielders moving toward the center-backs to drag the opposition’s midfield line out of position. This movement often opens lanes for direct passes to forwards dropping deep into the pockets of space.
Furthermore, De Zerbi has experimented with tactical fluidity, such as having a midfielder like Lucas Bergvall drop deep to form a temporary back three. This creates a dilemma for the opposing markers: if they track the midfielder, they leave a gap in the center; if they hold their position, they allow Spurs to build play with numerical superiority. This specific tactic was on display against Getafe, illustrating the manager’s commitment to evolving his system.
The pre-season also highlighted the role of players like Sandro Tonali in executing these new patterns. During the Hoffenheim match, Tonali frequently dropped into wide, deep positions to receive the ball. His physical ability to carry the ball forward with power allowed Spurs to transition quickly from build-up play into dangerous attacking situations, effectively punishing teams that attempted to press him.
These adjustments demonstrate that while the fundamental principles of De Zerbi’s football remain intact, the implementation has become more nuanced. By forcing opponents to make difficult choices regarding their defensive shape, Tottenham is aiming to maintain the element of surprise that made De Zerbi’s early Premier League tenure so successful, while ensuring the team remains robust against modern defensive countermeasures. The report also notes that he has had time and money over the summer to start creating a new-look Spurs to aim higher, with that mission accomplished. The report also notes that so how might he tackle the challenge. The report also notes that at the time, Pep Guardiola called him “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years”. The report also notes that studs on the ball, waiting for the opposition forwards to become impatient before closing them down felt unnatural but it was purposeful, the sight of the centre-backs standing tall. The report also notes that even in 2023, De Zerbi was using the same shape and similar tactics as he has used in pre-season.
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