Expectations from De Zerbi's First Game as Tottenham Manager

Roberto De Zerbi embodies the spirit of 'To Dare is To Do' and has had over a week to assess his new Tottenham squad, understanding the challenges ahead to ensure the club's Premier League survival. Despite the attractive job on the outside, the players are struggling with low confidence and numerous injuries, similar to the experience of the previous head coach, Igor Tudor. 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 face its first test on Sunday as Spurs visit Sunderland, live on Sky Sports, with Tottenham set to be in the relegation zone following West Ham's win over Wolves. The starting XI for De Zerbi's first game will be crucial, especially with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario unavailable due to hernia surgery, paving the way for Antonin Kinsky to start. De Zerbi is likely to opt for a back four consisting of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie, with an interesting decision to be made at left-back between Udogie and Djed Spence. The midfield pairing is another key decision, with Lucas Bergvall potentially benefiting from De Zerbi's appointment and possibly starting alongside Archie Gray, who was the standout player under Tudor. Alternatively, De Zerbi might choose the experienced Joao Palhinha for his tenacity. For the front four in a predicted 4-2-3-1 setup, Xavi Simons could be given a start in the No 10 role, where he is more effective, due to his creativity and the injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. Mathys Tel, if fit, could start on the right, with Randal Kolo Muani as an alternative, and Richarlison on the left due to Mohammed Kudus' injury. Dominic Solanke is expected to start up front despite a lackluster international break with England. De Zerbi is aware of the need to simplify his tactics to avoid overwhelming the players and to maximize short-term gains. His primary goal is to instill confidence in the team, with a first league win of 2026 being crucial. Focusing on getting key defenders like Romero and Van de Ven in the right mindset will be pivotal in sparking a run of victories. The club's dire situation demands immediate attention on Premier League survival, making De Zerbi's role critical in preventing relegation.