Roberto De Zerbi believes Tottenham are on the verge of something remarkable, but the Italian manager is cautious about setting lofty goals after a challenging start to the season. Three consecutive Premier League victories have propelled Spurs from the bottom of the table to ninth place, just ahead of Saturday's trip to Leeds United.
A win at Elland Road could see Tottenham climb into the European places, a remarkable turnaround from their relegation battle last season. However, De Zerbi is keen to keep his players grounded, reminding them of their recent struggles.
Staying Focused
"We are playing well. We are making points in a row but, like I said after the Crystal Palace game, we can't forget the beginning of the season and last season as well," De Zerbi told reporters on Friday. "We have many, many targets but we can't move our focus game-by-game. We are not good enough yet to change the focus."
The Italian joined Tottenham in March with the primary objective of avoiding relegation, a mission accomplished only on the final day of the previous campaign. Now, with a series of positive results, optimism is growing around the club.
Building for the Future
"We are building something special, the atmosphere in the dressing room, a clear style of play, the players are playing much better than in the beginning, but we started three weeks ago," De Zerbi added.
Part of that building process includes nurturing young talent. Luca Williams-Barnett, an 18-year-old academy graduate, made his Premier League debut as a late substitute in last weekend's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. De Zerbi believes the teenager has a bright future.
"You recognise the special talent immediately. I think the age is not so important," he said. "The most important is the quality, personality, the behaviour on the pitch and the qualities. And Luca has all of these qualities."
As Tottenham prepare for their trip to Leeds, De Zerbi's message is clear: stay humble, work hard, and continue to build. The Italian's cautious optimism reflects a manager who understands the fine line between success and failure in the Premier League.
With the team's recent form and the emergence of young talents like Williams-Barnett, Spurs fans have reason to believe that something special is indeed brewing in North London.
