De Zerbi's Tottenham Debut: What to Expect and Predicted Lineup

Roberto De Zerbi embodies the Tottenham motto 'To Dare is To Do' like no other manager. After over a week with his new squad, he knows the challenges ahead to keep the club in the Premier League. Despite the attractive job on the surface, the players are struggling with low confidence and numerous injuries, as seen during Igor Tudor's tenure. De Zerbi, however, believes there's enough talent to avoid relegation. The players have enjoyed their first training sessions under the Italian, which will be put to the test in his first game against Sunderland, live on Sky Sports. With Tottenham in the relegation zone, De Zerbi needs a win to move out of the bottom three. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is out after hernia surgery, so Antonin Kinsky will start, playing for the first time since his infamous 17th-minute substitution in the Champions League. De Zerbi is likely to opt for a back four of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie, possibly favoring Udogie over Djed Spence at left-back. The midfield pairing will be intriguing, with Lucas Bergvall potentially benefiting from De Zerbi's appointment and starting alongside Archie Gray, who was the standout player under Tudor. Alternatively, De Zerbi might choose the experienced Joao Palhinha. For the front four in a 4-2-3-1 setup, Xavi Simons could start in the No 10 role, where he is more effective. With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison injured, Simons has a significant role. Mathys Tel hopes to recover from his injury to start on the right, or Randal Kolo Muani could fill this role. Richarlison should start on the left, with Dominic Solanke up front despite a disappointing international break. De Zerbi aims to simplify the game and tactics to maximize short-term returns, focusing on giving players confidence. A first league win of 2026 would be crucial. To achieve this, De Zerbi needs to get defenders like Romero and Van de Ven in the right mindset. Their futures have been under scrutiny, but De Zerbi must keep them focused on the present. Tottenham's situation reflects a club in crisis, but the only current focus should be on Premier League survival. De Zerbi must prevent relegation, making this a critical period for the passionate Italian.