Roberto De Zerbi praises 'fantastic' fans, targets consistency as Spurs eye fourth straight Premier League win

Just over five months ago, Spurs maintained their Premier League status on the last day of the season; around three weeks ago, they were bottom of the table.

‘We have suffered enough’ – De Zerbi says Spurs must 'show personality' after Chelsea win

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However, with the second international break of the season on the horizon, the club are resurgent.

Spurs are unbeaten in four, and have won three on the bounce. They have scored eight goals, and conceded just two, to sit ninth.

Beat Leeds United on Saturday, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max, and Spurs could - if results go their way - finish the weekend in fifth position. A fifth-placed finish has been good enough for UEFA Champions League qualification in each of the past two seasons.

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Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi is not getting carried away, though. For now, his target is a little more prosaic.

"We have to be consistent," De Zerbi tells TNT Sports at Hotspur Way before the team sets off for Elland Road.

"Consistent in the results and in the performance. And then we can fix the target. For now, the target is just each game."

De Zerbi was appointed as Spurs boss on March 31. His mission was clear: save the club from relegation. Three wins, two draws and two losses followed as Spurs finished two points clear of the drop zone after a 1-0 win against Everton on the final day.

While De Zerbi earned plaudits for keeping Spurs up, the role of the fans in that escape was not lost on the 47-year-old.

"The fans were crucial, fantastic," he said. "Maybe without them, it was impossible to stay in the Premier League."

Spurs had finished 17th the season before. However, they were never in fear of relegation, finishing 13 points clear of 18th-placed Leicester City.

The skirmish with relegation that followed saw Spurs invest heavily in the transfer market, bringing in Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Savio and Jan Paul van Hecke amongst others.

Yet, they had a difficult start to the season, and were still winless heading into Gameweek 7. Now, though, after wins against Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, they are looking upwards - so what are De Zerbi’s reflections on the season thus far?

"Frustrated, because we didn’t start well," he said. "But maybe it was important, because you go through a tough, difficult moment to build.

"[It can build] the relationship with the players, the mentality, the mood, the behaviour, and the spirit of the group.

"Now it is maybe too early to say if we are in a good position or not.

"We already showed character, passion, because three or four weeks ago, we were last place in the table, but you can see the reaction."

Spurs’ Premier League struggles have undoubtedly been exacerbated by an extensive injury list.

Perhaps it is no surprise Spurs’ run of three wins in succession began with a return to the starting XI against Coventry of the "contagious" James Maddison, as De Zerbi calls him.

"He understands football," added De Zerbi.

"He understands the right position in every situation... he understands everything before the situation happens."

Maddison missed the win against Crystal Palace, having picked up a groin injury against Chelsea. The 29-year-old is in contention to return for the Leeds match, but his influence reaches beyond the pitch.

"Off the pitch, he is a leader," said De Zerbi. "He is positive, he is generous, and thinks of the team first. And his energy is contagious."

'Different intensity, more intensity'

De Zerbi's appointment at Spurs brought to an end a two-year hiatus from the league, and the Italian was struck by the increase in intensity upon his return.

"Football changes every day, every game, every month," said De Zerbi when asked how the tactical landscape had changed in his absence.

"What I found different was the intensity. The Premier League was already the best in the world, but when I came back, I found a different intensity, more intensity."

On Saturday, his team faces a side led by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who De Zerbi believes might be the league's biggest aerial threat.

"[Aerially], Calvert Lewin is one of - maybe the best - players in the league."

So how can Spurs deal with him? For De Zerbi, at source.

"We can defend him at the beginning, at the cross, but we also have defenders good enough to fight in the duels," he said.

"We also have to stay focused on what we can do when we have the ball.

"But we are lucky, because we have very good defenders who can defend even if we are playing against one of the best strikers in the Premier League."

There was talk of European ambitions for Leeds following a 4-1 demolition of Newcastle United on September 14. While their momentum has slowed, Daniel Farke’s side will provide a thorough examination of Spurs’ uptick in performances and results.

Find out how thorough that examination will be when coverage kicks off at 11:00 on TNT Sports 1.

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