‘This is the right way to play football’ – Jermain Defoe delivers Roberto De Zerbi review for Tottenham fans

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Jermain Defoe, who has only just taken on his first managerial role, has now opened up on whether new Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi will succeed in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur have had their final throw of the dice – appointing Roberto De Zerbi as manager – in a bid to salvage what has been a dismal Premier League campaign thus far.

De Zerbi arrives in the thick of a relegation scrap, with Tottenham just a single point above the bottom three in the English top flight.

The margin for error is minimal, with results of utmost importance for the former Brighton manager, who has seven games left to turn Spurs’ season around.

Jermain Defoe gives verdict on Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham

The jury is still out on whether De Zerbi is up to the task, but it is evident Tottenham are placing their trust in him, having handed him a five-year contract.

Reports have also claimed De Zerbi’s commitment goes beyond Spurs’ Premier League status, with the Italian said to be willing to remain in north London even if Tottenham were to go down.

Jermain Defoe has now given his view on the appointment, outlining his admiration for De Zerbi’s style of play and his pedigree.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Defoe highlighted the Italian’s footballing philosophy before backing his ability to succeed: “Yeah, I mean, he’s someone who comes in with an unbelievable CV. When you look at his playing style as a football fan, you have to appreciate and enjoy the way they play.

“I remember his Brighton team, watching Brighton play, thinking, ‘Wow, this is the right way to play football’. He’s going into a massive football club.

“But he’s someone, with a good CV and, you know, someone who backs himself, and I just hope this group of players can respond to that and just get the results that they need.”

Spurs situation demands a response from players

Jermain Defoe, now head coach of Woking FC in the National League, also acknowledged the scale of the challenge, highlighting the unfamiliar territory Tottenham now find themselves in.

However, he remains hopeful that De Zerbi can spark a response from the squad.

Introducing his point about the players’ lack of experience in such situations, Defoe again stressed the need for a collective reaction while backing the new manager to deliver results.

He added, “A lot of the players haven’t experienced this before. The fans and the club have not been through this situation before.

“So, hopefully they can come out of it, and with this manager, I’m sure he’s good enough to get the results they need.”