Expectations for De Zerbi's Tottenham Debut and Predicted Lineup

Roberto De Zerbi embodies the spirit of 'To Dare is To Do' and has now had over a week to assess his new Tottenham squad. With a clear understanding of the challenges ahead, he aims to keep the club in the Premier League. Despite the attractive nature of the job, the players are currently low on confidence and plagued by injuries, as seen during Igor Tudor's tenure. However, De Zerbi is optimistic about staving off relegation with his talented squad. The players have responded positively to his arrival, enjoying the initial training sessions under the Italian coach. This positivity will be put to the test in De Zerbi's first game in charge against Sunderland on Sunday. With Tottenham in the relegation zone, a win is crucial to move out of the bottom three. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is unavailable due to hernia surgery, so Antonin Kinsky will start. De Zerbi is likely to opt for a back four consisting of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie. The midfield pairing will be an interesting decision, with Lucas Bergvall potentially benefiting from De Zerbi's appointment. Bergvall could start alongside Archie Gray, but Joao Palhinha's experience could also be considered. In the front four, Xavi Simons may be given a start in the No 10 role, where he is more effective. With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison injured, Simons will have a significant role under De Zerbi. Mathys Tel hopes to recover from his injury to start on the right, while Richarlison should start on the left. Dominic Solanke will likely start up front despite a disappointing international break with England. De Zerbi knows he cannot overcomplicate his tactics and will simplify the game to maximize returns in the short term. His primary goal is to boost the players' confidence, and a first league win of 2026 would be a significant step towards achieving this. With defenders Romero and Van de Ven in the right mindset, Spurs have a strong chance of putting together a run of wins. De Zerbi's ability to focus the pair on the present will be key to getting Tottenham out of trouble. The club's dire position reflects a crisis, but the only focus now is Premier League survival. Achieving this will allow for investigations and reviews to begin. It is up to De Zerbi to prevent relegation and steer the club towards safety.