Tottenham should look past freshly-linked manager Pep Guardiola adores - opinion


Tottenham are being linked with a move for a former Premier League manager who is currently working abroad. Spurs have endured what has so far been a forgettable campaign, currently in 16th place in the Premier League and yet to surpass their record-low points total of 44 points.
The North London side need another seven points to reach that mark, although the Premier League is not their priority at this stage. Having reached the Europa League semi-finals, Spurs still have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League, and so all chips are on that particular competition as they prepare to face Liverpool on Sunday, hoping to delay the Anfield title party.
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Hide AdIn the meantime, rumours continue to swirl surrounding the managerial position at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Ange Postecoglou under intense pressure after overseeing such a disastrous season, struggling to find any remedies to the difficult injury issues that were presented, and Spurs haven’t looked much better even with the return of much of their squad.
According to a fresh report from Graeme Bailey, Tottenham like the look of former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, who is currently manager of Olympique Marseille. Marseille are currently in second place, albeit a long way behind PSG, who have already been crowned league champions, still unbeaten.
At Brighton, De Zerbi led the Seagulls to Europa League qualification and subsequently the knockout stage, while he also go them to an FA Cup semi-final before ultimately leaving by mutual consent at the end of last season.
He said upon his departure having fallen out with the Brighton bosses: "I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons. We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values."
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Hide AdDe Zerbi has been praised heavily by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in the past, who has said: “I am pretty convinced I am right in what I am saying – he is one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years. There is no team playing in the way they play – it’s unique. I had the feeling when he arrived the impact he would have on the Premier League would be great – I couldn’t expect him to do it in this sort of a team.
“He creates 20-25 chances on average per game – he’s better by far than all the opponents. He monopolises the ball in a way I’ve never seen for a long, long time. Everyone’s involved, the goalkeeper’s like a holding midfielder. They deserve completely the compliments and the success that they have. It’s one of the teams I try and learn a lot from.”
Should Spurs hire De Zerbi?
On one hand, Postecoglou might be feeling a little nervous with De Zerbi being linked, but the former Brighton boss has only recently joined Marseille, and he will lead them into the Champions League next season should his side hold steady down the stretch.
De Zerbi was revolutionary initially at Brighton, but the Seagulls did disappoint in his last season, which should serve as a red flag for Spurs, not to mention he has shown he is willing to go to war with the board, and Daniel Levy won’t like that given few come out on top over the Spurs chief in an argument.
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Hide AdAbove all, the biggest deciding factor should be the other options out there. Andoni AIraola could be available at the right price this summer, and what stands out about the Spaniard is that he has worked wonders with limited resources, both at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth. Iraola has done it consistently, and you can’t say the same of De Zerbi, who didn’t do brilliantly at Sassuolo, tailed off significantly at Brighton and hasn’t exactly worked wonders at Marseille.
Marseille spent big in the summer, securing 17 new players between permanent signings and loan deals, and while they are second, they have not pulled away by any means, only four points ahead of Strasbourg in seventh place. De Zerbi is a good option, but he is not the best option if Tottenham want to move on from Postecoglou this summer.
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