Expectations from De Zerbi's Tottenham Debut and Predicted Lineup

Roberto De Zerbi embodies the spirit of 'To Dare is To Do' like no other manager. With over a week of working with his new Tottenham squad, he has a clear understanding of the challenges ahead to keep the club in the Premier League. The attractive job on the outside hides a team low on confidence and plagued by injuries, as seen during Igor Tudor's tenure. However, De Zerbi's talent and optimism suggest he believes there's enough potential to avoid relegation. The players have reportedly enjoyed their initial training sessions under the Italian, which should lift their spirits. This positivity will face its first test on Sunday as Spurs visit Sunderland, live on Sky Sports. Given West Ham's recent win, Tottenham will start in the relegation zone, making a win crucial to escape the bottom three. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is out after hernia surgery, so Antonin Kinsky will start, playing for the first time since his notable substitution in the Champions League. De Zerbi is likely to opt for a back four consisting 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 De Zerbi potentially starting Lucas Bergvall alongside Archie Gray, who was the standout player under Tudor. Alternatively, he might choose the experienced Joao Palhinha for his tackling prowess. 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, given his creativity and the injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. Mathys Tel hopes to recover from his injury to start on the right, or Randal Kolo Muani could fill this spot. Richarlison should start on the left, with Dominic Solanke up front, despite an unimpressive international break. De Zerbi aims to simplify tactics to maximize short-term gains, focusing on boosting player confidence. A first league win of 2026 would significantly help, ending the disgrace of being winless in the Premier League this year. Getting defenders like Romero and Van de Ven focused is key, despite their futures being under scrutiny. The primary goal now is Premier League survival, with investigations and reviews to follow once safety is achieved. De Zerbi's task is clear: prevent relegation and set the stage for a potential turnaround under his passionate leadership.