Roberto De Zerbi 'big concern' raised by Shay Given already as Tottenham relegation fears linger
Roberto De Zerbi's appointment at Tottenham Hotspur has left former Newcastle United and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given worried.
The Italian head coach has replaced Igor Tudor, who left Tottenham just over a month after taking over from Thomas Frank.
The 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest before the international break leaves Spurs 17th in the Premier League and one point adrift of the drop zone.
The former Marseille and Brighton head coach has a huge task on his hands to keep the Lilywhites in the top flight, as the last seven games will determine their Premier League status.
Some might be pleased that Tottenham appointed De Zerbi, but Given is among those who are worried that he could repeat his poor start to life as Brighton manager with Spurs.
Shay Given concerned about Roberto De Zerbi's start as Brighton manager
De Zerbi is known for his aggressive style of football, although given his history with previous clubs, it's a move that could go incredibly badly for Tottenham.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate podcast, Given is not enthusiastic about the appointment of the Italian head coach.
| Opponent | Result |
| Liverpool (a) | 3-3 D |
| Tottenham (h) | 1-0 L |
| Brentford (a) | 2-0 L |
| Nottingham Forest (h) | 0-0 D |
| Man City (a) | 3-1 L |
He said: "Tudor was classed as a disciplinarian, someone who is no-nonsense in his methods, but De Zerbi is also volatile.
"We're talking about a group of players that are very fragile, and you're bringing in another disciplinarian.
"Maybe they did need someone like Harry Redknapp, who would put his arms around the players.
"If De Zerbi loses his first five games, Tottenham are down. He didn't win in his first five games at Brighton, so it's a big concern."
As the table further up the page shows, he won only two points from his first five matches in charge of Brighton in 2022.
While De Zerbi did turn things around and lead the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish in the 2022-23 campaign, he doesn't have the time to start slowly at Spurs.
Tottenham have to secure a win in their next match away to Sunderland, and if De Zerbi does get off to a winless start, then the pressure will only increase on his shoulders.
These stats show how tough it will be for De Zerbi at Tottenham
Of course, Given is right to raise this concern, especially as Spurs can't afford to make any more mistakes.
Tottenham have the worst home record in the top flight this season, losing 10 of their 16 matches in N17.
They have also won just 30 points from 31 Premier League games this season, which is their joint-lowest return after 31 games of a league campaign, after doing so in 1914-15 (30).
Tottenham are the only side without a Premier League win so far in 2026, drawing five and losing seven of their 12 games.
Only three sides have had longer runs without a win from the start of a calendar year, all of whom went on to be relegated (Sunderland, 17 in 2002-03; Derby, 18 in 2007-08; Middlesbrough, 14 in 2016-17).
These figures show how badly Spurs have fallen over the last few months, and De Zerbi has to have an immediate impact in N17.
If he doesn't, then comparisons to his start at Brighton will be made, which could ultimately lead to Premier League relegation.