Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Saturday, April 11, 2026, 08:15 / Updated Saturday, April 11, 2026, 08:15
Roberto De Zerbi will debut on his bench Tottenham on sunday at Sunderland. Spurs fell into the relegation zone, 18th, after his win West Ham against him Wolverhampton (4-0).
The new manager of Radu Drăgușin at Tottenham, Roberto De Zerbi, hopes not only to save the team from relegation, but to remain on the bench of the Londoners for many years.
Roberto De Zerbi wants to play like Ange Postecoglou
Employed by the club for a period of 5 yearshe outlined his plans to reporters in his pre-match press conference with Sunderland on Sunday. And his statements mean bad news for the Romanian defender.
The Italian technician wants to play attacking football and believes that the players are available to do so successfully. “I want to keep the ball,” he said. “I want to see the Tottenham again that I saw with Postecoglou. In my second season at Brighton, it was Postecoglou here with a lot of these players and it was one of the best teams in terms of quality of play.”
Radu Drăgușin, in a duel with Ademola Lookman (Atletico) / Photo: Imago
Ange Postecoglou really played an offensive, fast football, but that did not at all advantage Drăgușin, a more static central defender, formidable only in the aerial game. In fact, the Romanian brought from Genoa in January 2024 was not a starter even during the time of the Australian.
Roberto De Zerbi does not see Cristi Chivu in the first eleven
De Zerbi also named the players with whom he wants to bring Tottenham to light: “With Pedro Porro, with Destiny Udogie, with Micky van de Ven, with Cristian Romero, with this team. I would like to see this one again. The DNA of this club, of this team is to find the goal, to score!”.
Basically, De Zerbi nominated all the starters in the Spurs defense, players that Postecoglou also relied on in the two seasons he spent on the bench. And the message is clear: Drăgușin will not be in the first eleven even during the Italian's mandate. At most a backup role, as has always been the case since arriving in the Premier League.
