Roberto De Zerbi dismisses talk he joined Tottenham for money

Roberto De Zerbi scoffed at suggestions he joined Tottenham for the money and promised to rapidly improve the mentality of his squad in a bid to secure safety.

Spurs travel to Sunderland on Sunday without a Premier League victory in 2026 and in a real fight to avoid a seismic first relegation in 49 years.

Tottenham initially turned to De Zerbi after Thomas Frank was sacked on February 11, but were unsuccessful after his exit from Marseille in the same week and instead went down the interim route with Igor Tudor.

It proved a disastrous appointment with Tudor losing five of his seven matches before he departed by mutual consent on March 29 and this time De Zerbi did answer Spurs’ SOS call, despite the realistic threat of a bottom-three finish.

With no relegation release clause included in a bumper five-year contract, De Zerbi was asked if money was the major factor behind agreeing to take over Tottenham in such a precarious position.

“No,” De Zerbi insisted. “You can find the right answer in my history because I left a lot of money in my life and the money never changed my focus on my work.

“Marseille was a special place. I didn’t say goodbye yet to my former fans, my former club, because I didn’t want to make any polemic. And in that moment, it was good to stay at home.

“For me, it’s not a problem this situation for Tottenham. When you come in this club, you have not to decide depending on the situation in that moment.

“You have to have a longer vision. Now, the focus is on this season, these seven games, to keep (in) the Premier League.”

“We need to make the fans happy with the right football, the right spirit and behaviour on the pitch. The message for my staff and players is we have to deserve their support.”

Roberto De