How new-look Spurs are shaping up under De Zerbi

Roberto de Zerbi, the new Tottenham manager, aimed to avoid relegation upon his arrival in March. After accomplishing that goal, he began reshaping the team in the summer. Previously, when he managed Brighton in 2022, he introduced innovative tactics that were praised by top league managers. De Zerbi's approach focused on coaching build-up play, particularly the positioning of center-backs.

When De Zerbi first arrived at Brighton, he made center-backs stand tall and wait for opposing forwards to become impatient before closing them down. This tactic, though unconventional, forced ball-playing center-backs to combine with holding midfielders using one-touch passing combinations. However, the game has evolved since then, and De Zerbi has had to adapt his tactics accordingly.

In pre-season, Spurs faced challenges with their center-backs in the middle of the pitch. Opposing teams set up defensively to block this approach, making it difficult for Spurs' center-backs to find holding midfielders. De Zerbi has responded by either pulling central players out of position or progressing the ball down the flanks.

One example of this strategy was seen during Spurs' 3-0 win against Hoffenheim in pre-season. Hoffenheim's defensive shape was so narrow that Spurs had to pass between their center-backs to shift Hoffenheim's formation left to right. Using their wide players as decoys, De Zerbi's team created space for center-forwards dropping deep, who could then play first-time balls into the wingers.

This pattern of play is expected to continue this season, with Spurs adapting their tactics to overcome defensive blocks and exploit the middle of the pitch.