How Roberto De Zerbi Is Reshaping Tottenham Hotspur in Weeks

Brighton & Hove Albion’s last-gasp equaliser at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Matchweek 33 was a gut-wrenching blow for a side fighting desperately to avoid relegation. But Roberto De Zerbi was in no mood for despair after the 2-2 draw.

“Now it’s difficult to hear my words, but if you watch the players, if you analyse the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row,” the Italian said in his post-match press conference. “Not to be arrogant, because I’m not arrogant, especially now, but we have enough qualities to fight and to win games in a row.”

For a manager overseeing a side that had not tasted a Premier League victory in 2026, these were bold words. But the performance against Brighton — one of Tottenham’s best of the entire season — provided genuine evidence that De Zerbi’s influence is already being felt. Since then, Spurs followed up with a 1-0 win at bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Matchweek 34, their first league victory of 2026.

So what exactly has De Zerbi changed? And which players are benefiting most from his arrival in north London?

Finding a Better Balance: Formation and Personnel

The first and most visible change Roberto De Zerbi made was structural. Moving away from the 4-4-2 that Igor Tudor had been using in his short 44-day tenure, De Zerbi has shifted Tottenham into a 4-3-3 formation — a shape far better suited to the pressing, transitional style of football the Italian demands.

The contrast in personnel selection between Tudor’s final home game — a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest — and De Zerbi’s first home team sheet was remarkable. There were seven changes between the two line-ups. Of those who started both games, only centre-back Kevin Danso and striker Dominic Solanke retained their positions in consecutive home fixtures.

This was not merely rotation for the sake of it. De Zerbi has gone back to basics, placing individuals in roles that suit their natural strengths and building a collective identity around high pressing, aggressive transitions, and purposeful movement both on and off the ball.

Provoking a Reaction: Effort, Distance and Sprints

One of the most immediate and tangible impacts De Zerbi has had on Tottenham is a dramatic improvement in the team’s physical output. This matters enormously — a recurring criticism of the side earlier in the season was a perceived lack of intensity and work rate.

Against Brighton, Tottenham covered over 3 kilometres more than their season average. The number of sprints increased by 17 per cent compared to their 2025-26 average prior to that game. These are not marginal gains. They represent a wholesale shift in the team’s physical commitment to the game plan.

The difference of +3.2 km in distance covered and +27 sprints per game reflects a team that has been re-energised. Whether driven by fear of relegation, the clarity of De Zerbi’s demands, or both, the improvement in physical output has been immediate and measurable.

Pressing High With Ferocious Intensity

At the heart of Roberto De Zerbi’s early tactical approach at Tottenham is an aggressive, coordinated high press — a logical strategy for a side that had been desperately short of clear-cut chances. Spurs had created just six big chances in their previous six Premier League matches before De Zerbi’s first home game. Against Brighton alone, they created three.

Both of Tottenham’s goals in that match were direct products of outstanding pressing moments — not individual quality or set-piece routine, but the collective tactical execution that De Zerbi has always demanded from his sides.

Goal One: The Gallagher Press

Before Tottenham’s opener, Conor Gallagher chased down goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with tremendous enthusiasm, forcing him into a pass toward Jan Paul van Hecke in the corner. With help from Solanke, Gallagher turned over possession and drilled a pass to Rodrigo Bentancur. The press created a 4v3 overload for Tottenham inside the final third. Within seconds, Bentancur found Xavi Simons, who clipped a delightful curling cross into the danger zone — headed home by Pedro Porro.

Goal Two: The Palhinha and Bergvall Turnover

Brighton attempted to respond to Tottenham’s man-to-man marking by leaving six players up on the halfway line from a goal kick, deliberately emptying their own half to create space to play out. But Joao Palhinha broke free from the man-to-man system just before the goal kick was played to Van Hecke, sprinting from distance to close the defender down. Together with Lucas Bergvall, Palhinha forced an error — tackling deep inside Brighton’s own half. The turnover created a 4v1 overload for Tottenham, and from the resulting move, Simons was afforded enough space to cut inside and drive an unstoppable shot into the far top corner.

Both goals carried the unmistakable fingerprints of De Zerbi’s philosophy: coordinated pressing, fast transitions, and quick overloads once possession is won.

Conor Gallagher: Well-Suited to De Zerbi’s Demands

No individual better embodied De Zerbi’s early tactical identity at Tottenham than Conor Gallagher. The England international, operating as the spare man in the midfield three, consistently pushed forward to press Brighton’s defenders alongside Solanke, setting the tone for his teammates.

His high-energy, box-to-box style is precisely what De Zerbi demands from a central midfielder. Against Brighton, Gallagher came agonisingly close to scoring after closing down Verbruggen — his block from inside the six-yard box narrowly failing to result in a goal.

Gallagher’s spell at Tottenham since joining from Atletico Madrid had been frustrating prior to De Zerbi’s arrival — zero goals and just a single assist from 11 league appearances. But his style of play is a natural fit for the Italian’s system. The relentless work ethic, the pressing triggers, the ability to cover every blade of grass — these are qualities De Zerbi actively builds his teams around.

If Gallagher continues to make the kind of runs into the penalty area he made against Brighton, goals will follow. Under De Zerbi, the system now gives him the licence and the platform to do exactly that.

Xavi Simons: Thriving in a Creative Free Role

While Gallagher provided the engine, Xavi Simons provided the spark. The 23-year-old Dutch international delivered one of the individual performances of his Tottenham career against Brighton — a goal, an assist, and a constant menace that the Seagulls could not contain.

The key to Simons’ performance was the freedom De Zerbi afforded him. Stationed on the left side of the attack when Tottenham were out of possession, Simons was given licence to drift infield and find space whenever the team needed a creative outlet. His positioning was deliberately unpredictable — making him extraordinarily difficult for Brighton’s defenders to track.

Tottenham made just 88 successful passes in the opposition half against Brighton and only 114 at Sunderland — both figures well below their season average of 151. This directness and verticality creates precisely the kind of space that Simons thrives in, and De Zerbi’s transitional system is built to exploit it.

The Netherlands international also demonstrated his pressing credentials. On a per-90-minute basis, Simons ranks among the very best pressing attackers in the Premier League when it comes to ball regains in the final third.

Against Brighton, Simons also demonstrated the danger he poses in transition — hitting the post from a counter-attack involving Solanke after popping up on the striker’s inside with space to run into. In De Zerbi’s system, surrounded by hard-working players like Solanke, Gallagher, Palhinha, Bentancur, and Bergvall, Simons has both the creative freedom and the collective support structure to produce his best football consistently.

The Collective Picture: A Midfield Built for De Zerbi

What makes the Tottenham midfield under Roberto De Zerbi genuinely interesting is how well the collective profile suits his demands. Natural ball winners like Palhinha, Bentancur, and Bergvall provide the defensive foundation and the pressing triggers. Gallagher provides the box-to-box dynamism and the intensity that sets the tone. And Simons operates as the creative apex — unpredictable, technically excellent, and one of the most effective pressers in the division.

Together, this group gives De Zerbi the tools to implement his hostile off-the-ball approach while also maintaining the creative quality needed to convert turnovers into goals. The performances against Brighton illustrate what the system looks like when it functions correctly.

A Different Test: What Comes Next

The 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers provided Tottenham with their first league victory of 2026, but the challenge ahead is significant. Tottenham remain in a precarious position and cannot afford any further dropped points.

The Wolves fixture offered a contrasting tactical challenge — an already-relegated side that had impressed in their last three home games, drawing with Arsenal before beating Aston Villa and Liverpool. In those matches, Wolves had averaged possession shares of just 42.5%, 39.2%, and 34.2% respectively, inviting pressure and defending compactly.

That meant more would be asked of Tottenham in possession — a test of how well De Zerbi’s system functions when the opposition sits deep rather than engaging in a high-tempo pressing battle. The 1-0 win, however narrow, suggests the team are beginning to find answers.

With five games remaining and a two-point gap to safety, Tottenham need their players to continue buying into De Zerbi’s methods with the same conviction they showed against Brighton. The signs are encouraging. The work is far from done.

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