Roberto De Zerbi has challenged Tottenham to play with passion and character as Spurs continue their rebuild following last season’s dramatic Premier League survival.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has called on his players to show “soul and passion” as the club embarks on a fresh chapter following last season’s narrow escape from Premier League relegation.
Tottenham avoided the drop by finishing 17th after a tense campaign that went down to the final stages, prompting a major squad overhaul this summer. The North London club has invested heavily in new talent as it looks to return to competing higher up the table.
Among Tottenham’s marquee arrivals are midfielders Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, while De Zerbi has reunited with former Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Experienced additions Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka have also joined on free transfers.
Speaking during Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Australia, De Zerbi stressed that rebuilding the squad is about more than signing quality players. The Italian wants to create a team built on commitment, character and a winning mentality.
A warm welcome in Sydney 🤍🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/Fy2xRvpJlS
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 27, 2026
“I want to build a new team with the qualities, with big players, but with soul, with passion, with all the values we have,” De Zerbi said. “Football now is not just on the pitch, it’s not just with the ball, it’s before, it’s in life. It’s how many hours during the day you think about your job.”
Tottenham’s Rebuild Takes Shape During Australian Tour
Tottenham made an encouraging start to their pre-season preparations by defeating A-League champions Auckland FC 2-0 in New Zealand.
Victory at Eden Park 💪 pic.twitter.com/ZGAh1XRyby
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 26, 2026
Dane Scarlett and Richarlison found the net in a comfortable victory that gave De Zerbi an early opportunity to assess both his young prospects and senior stars.
The Spurs boss named a youthful starting lineup before introducing several experienced players in the closing stages, including Fernandes, Richarlison, Conor Gallagher and Ben Davies. The performance also delivered another major positive, with the team avoiding injuries while keeping a clean sheet.
“We didn’t concede, we didn’t suffer any injuries and this is big news, important news, especially for the beginning of the season,” De Zerbi said after the victory, highlighting the importance of building momentum ahead of the new campaign.
Tottenham will continue their Australian tour with fixtures against Sydney FC and Chelsea before returning to England for the Premier League season, which begins on August 22. De Zerbi also hinted that the club’s transfer business may not be finished, revealing that discussions with the owners and board have reinforced his belief that more additions could arrive before the transfer window closes.
“I think we can be happier at the end of this transfer market because I spoke a lot with the owner and the board,” he said. “They want to build a very strong team for this season and make the days of the future become great again.”
