Roberto De Zerbi believes rebuilding the spirit and mentality of Tottenham Hotspur will be crucial to achieving a revival following two seasons near the foot of the Premier League table.
The 47-year-old, who took over in March and guided the club to safety on the final day of last season, insists that a busy summer recruitment window alone will not deliver long-term success.
Tottenham have already recruited Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Cole Ramsey and Martin Dubravka, but De Zerbi has explained that there is more to come and that his players must build a camaraderie to achieve big things.
“In the transfer market, we’re not finished yet. We’re looking forward to start another season with different ambitions and results,” De Zerbi said on the Men in Blazers YouTube channel.
“We have to find the condition to build a strong team, than the last seasons to compete again for the top of the table.
“I usually think about the soul, passion, spirit and mentality of the team and then the improvement we can do in the future, because I can’t stay with the focus just on the present.”
The Italian coach said he wants supporters to identify his side not only by their style of play but through their commitment and character.
“I would like when we go to play in the Premier League… the people recognise one’s soul, passion, value of the player,” he said.
“The qualities of the players are not enough. If you don’t put something more, something of yourself, something you feel inside of you, it’s very tough to now compete with the top teams in the world, in the Premier League.”
Tottenham were further boosted by the news on Monday that defender Micky van de Ven has signed a new long-term contract with the club.
The future of his centre-back partner Cristian Romero is less certain, with the Argentine rumoured to be leaving the club this summer. In recent days, he has been linked with a shock move to north London rivals Arsenal.
Spurs begin their new Premier League campaign against Brentford on 22 August.
