Roberto De Zerbi gave plenty of details in his press conference after Tottenham Hotspur finally secured their first Premier League win with a 3-1 victory over Coventry.
It had been 536 days since James Maddison last started for the club and he made up for lost time with a magnificent opening goal just 14 minutes later. It was the first time Spurs had taken the lead in a Premier League match this season as the 29-year-old headed home a perfect effort from outside the box courtesy of Mohammed Kudus’ pass.
Coventry equalized five minutes into the second half. Poor defending from the hosts gave Jack Rudoni space to score after a ball in the box bounced off him to Brandon Thomas-Asante. Antonin Kinsky could only put the ball into his own net.
However, Omar Marmoush scored his first goal for Spurs in the 58th minute and that was more important. Andy Robertson played the ball to him and the Egyptian turned and battled past his man before sending the ball into the far corner of the net.
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Dejan Kulusevski made his return to the bench to huge cheers 526 days after the Swede suffered a complicated knee injury two seasons ago and after some nervy moments the home side secured their first victory with substitute Ben Davies hitting a shot which Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth fumbled into his own net.
Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those who asked De Zerbi questions after the match. Here is the full transcript of the press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Let’s start with the positive, first victory in the Premier League this season, Maddison back as a starter and scorer, Kulusevski also back, a good evening in that regard?
Yes, very happy with the result, very happy for Maddison, very happy for Deki Kulusevski. I think we played much better in other games, Old Trafford, Aston Villa especially in the first half, Everton especially in the first half, Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, but we didn’t play so well, not because of our responsibility.
But for their merit, for Coventry’s merit, because playing against a team that defends so close, so compact with a low block, it’s always a very, very difficult game. Especially in the first half, we didn’t move the ball as quickly. I think we were too predictable, but I knew that before the match.
We played three in defense (in possession), I want to explain why, because for the injured players in the midfield position, Conor Gallagher came back two days ago, and at the beginning of the week, the medical staff told me that maybe he might not be available to play.
Bergvall was injured, Mateus Fernandes worked the last two days because of his (newborn) son, and I thought that being three in defense was the best solution to defend the counter-attack, to have more control over the game, and for that I am happy because we did not concede a counter-attack.
Coventry’s style of play is 80% counter-attacking and we didn’t concede any counter-attacks. We conceded a shot, we didn’t create more or too many chances like the other games, to be honest, but I knew that before the game and I prepared for the game by telling the players that this game was maybe the most difficult, because Coventry’s defensive style is different from Manchester United or other games.
Where are the injuries to Robertson, Tosin and Marmoush?
No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important.
What did you think of Archie Gray joining Sandro Tonali in midfield?
I prepared the match with three in defense, a midfielder and three players in the pocket, Marmoush, James Maddison and Archie Gray, normally with these three completely different players. Marmoush is more attacking, Maddison plays more in the pocket, for the link with the defenders, with Tonali and Archie Gray to go in the overlapping and underlying Kudus. I think two players (in those pockets) scored.
Robertson played as a winger, and in the first half he played very well, Kudus too, I liked his performance, and especially in the second half, because in the first half I think it was too difficult to find space, Solanke played a good second half.
How important is the return of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski?
Different players. They are different players. Different talent, different experience, different personality. With them in the locker room, there is a different atmosphere.
The Spurs forwards have struggled a bit with confidence, but Maddison never looks like he has a confidence problem. How important is this?
It’s important. I think the outcome is important, but the most important may be two things. The first, we understood that we were capable of winning a match like the other Premier League teams.
The second, if we put something more than ourselves, as we did in the last two weeks before Old Trafford, because the day before Old Trafford we had a big meeting and we talked about the situation. We cannot accept, we cannot move forward if we do not take more responsibility.
This week was important because we stayed together, we spent time together, and they want to build, not a family, but like a family.
Because during the match, if you have a problem, if there is a difficult situation, a difficult situation, you have to play for your teammates, for your fans, for your brother. Not like a robot with 11 players on the field.
Did you see the effect of the trip to Marbella?
No, the effect of the quality of the players, because Maddison is a different player. But regarding your question, I think Man United and today the players showed a great reaction after the goal we conceded at Old Trafford, with 10 players.
And today we conceded a goal in the first half, maybe in the second with a shot in the first half and two more in the second half. Twice they entered the goal area and we conceded the goal. It was hard, wasn’t it? But football is like that. Life is like that. If we don’t respond together in difficult times, we have to change sports, we have to play golf or other sports.
Did you feel that the stadium needed it at that time (Kulusevski’s introduction), with the match going on and maybe a little nervousness, that it needed a boost?
Listen Kudus, I thought he played well, I think he could finish the game, but I thought Kulusevski just for the fans. Just for the fans, because they were waiting for him on the pitch and in the last 5-10 minutes of overtime we needed the support of the fans. And they are fantastic with Kulusevski, with us, they have suffered too much in the last 3-4 seasons, I don’t know, but they deserve to celebrate many, many victories.
What’s next? Not just Chelsea, but how can you build on that?
I don’t know. I hope we can play with this attitude, with this mentality, with this union, and improving at the same time, improving confidence, improving everything that we need.
We have to play better because we can play better. I think in other games, even if we play with different opponents, it would be easier as a tactical game. But it is certain that we must now insist in this direction.
Gn sports
