Roberto De Zerbi press conference LIVE - New Tottenham boss on Kudus, injury news and future

The new Tottenham Hotspur head coach is set to take part in his first press conference ahead of the Premier League game at Sunderland

Roberto De Zerbi is speaking to the media for the first time as Tottenham boss on Friday afternoon ahead of his debut in the dugout at Sunderland this weekend.

The Italian will take charge of his Spurs team for the first time on Sunday afternoon when the north London side make the trip to the Stadium of Light with the hope of recording their first Premier League win in 2026. The new boss wants to keep Tottenham in the Premier League at the end of their final seven matches of the campaign.

First De Zerbi will take his seat in the press conference room at Hotspur Way on Friday, speaking to the media about what lies ahead, including the latest injury news, particularly that setback for Mohammed Kudus. football.london will be bringing you a live blog from the press conference below, then a full transcript afterwards with everything the 46-year-old said in the main broadcast section and also later on what he said in the embargoed section for the daily newspapers.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to De Zerbi. Scroll down for the latest updates from the Italian's first press conference at Hotspur Way.

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Will he stay at Spurs for the long term?

I stayed three years in Sassuolo and then I left from Ukraine when the war started. In Brighton I left for different problems and in Marseille maybe the same. I would like to stay four or five, for a long time. I don't know how many years but in Marseille like this because in Marseille my idea was to stay for a long time. Then you have to speak with the club and when you have a different view of football or other things you have to leave money and you have to leave. But in my plan for sure there is the idea to stay for a long time, to try to put Tottenham, I'm not speaking about the titles because it's not the right moment now, but to put Tottenham to stay in the first position in the Premier League because there are all parts to reach that level.

Why only two of his former coaches?

It is totally different this situation because we have no time to work like in Brighton time and I don’t want to put confusion inside of the players.

Have any players surprised him in training?

In the last period I watch a lot of games, especially of Tottenham and yes, one thing is to watch the game at home and a different thing is to work with them on the pitch. We have very big players, young players Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, but in a way we have older players that are important like Van de Ven. Van de Ven is a crucial player for me like Romero, like Porro, like Solanke. I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in Chelsea time. And I think I am lucky because I have a big confidence in my players and their qualities. For me, my target is to help them to play well and to enjoy with the ball because their characterists are very clear for me.

Any message for the fans?

I haven't any message. Also in the last game they were fantastic before the game. The message for my staff and players is we have to deserve their support because the fans are suffering like us, like the players. There is just one club, one team. The players can change team but the fans the club is unique. We need to make the fans happy with the right football, the right spirit and behaviour on the pitch.

More team news

Vicario is not ready for this game. I hope he can come back next week but I don't know yet. Bentancur is working with us but not completely but we have enough to fight, to play, to make points.

Team news

I started with not big luck! Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position. But we have to look forward. I think we have a lot of very good attackers. Kolo Muani I know is not playing a good season but he is a good player. Mathys Tel I wanted at Marseille, Xavi is a big talent. Richarlison and Solanke as well, I mean you probably know better than me.

Here's what others have said about De Zerbi

We've got what Guardiola, Klopp, Luis Enrique, Slot, Joao Pedro and plenty of others have said about Roberto De Zerbi as he gets to work at Spurs. You can find all of that by clicking right here.

Here's what we spotted in training

There are five things we spotted during Roberto De Zerbi's first day of training at Spurs, including something he said that was scary but necessary, who was missing and more. You can read that by going right here.

Here's every word De Zerbi said in his first interview

We've got every word Roberto De Zerbi said in his first club interview with an apology for his Mason Greenwood comments, confirming he will be at Spurs next season even if they are relegated, how he plans to fix Tottenham, what his team will look like and more. You can find that transcript right here.

The news on Kudus is not good

Spurs have confirmed that Mohammed Kudus "will now require further specialist review and, potentially, surgery" after his setback in training. You can find how we broke the news of the Ghana international's new injury issue by reading right here.

Alan Shearer prediction

Alan Shearer believes Sunderland could heap more misery on Tottenham this weekend.

Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said:

I guess it's a guessing game in terms of the impact that De Zerbi can have. I just think with Sunderland and everything else that goes with them, I think the momentum that they'll take from beating Newcastle, I'm going to say Sunderland to win. If Spurs go there and win, then I would think that will be enough to get them through to the end of the season. Again, if they go there and Sunderland beat them, then you know the noise that will happen. So, I just think Sunderland with the form and everything else, it'll be a great atmosphere. They're tough anyway, but they're tougher at home. So, Sunderland to win.

Here's what he will be asked

You can find the five key questions we reckon Roberto De Zerbi will face at his first Spurs press conference by heading right here.

Welcome to Hotspur Way

Tottenham have their fourth head coach in nine months and it will shortly be time for Roberto De Zerbi to explain to us how he will turn the north London club around before relegation catches up with them.

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