Josh Edwards

Thu 2 April 2026 10:10, UK

Tottenham Hotspur‘s decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi could have a negative effect on either Archie Gray or Lucas Bergvall.

Spurs had to make a decision on their next manager, and they pushed hard to ensure that De Zerbi would be the man in the dugout for the final seven games of the season.

For several reasons, that could prove to be the right call by Tottenham, given the job he did with Brighton last time he was in the Premier League.

However, De Zerbi’s style of football could have a negative impact on several players, with either Gray or Bergvall likely to suffer the most.

Robert De Zerbi tactics could end badly for Tottenham gem

As of right now, De Zerbi‘s only task is to keep Tottenham in the Premier League, without having to worry about any of the potential consequences.

However, his style of play could certainly bring a handful of them to certain players, most notably those in midfield.

De Zerbi’s teams typically adopt a 3-2-5 formation in possession, with one of the two midfielders playing slightly further forward, and the other almost shielding the defensive line.

At Brighton, he had Moises Caicedo, and at Marseille, he had Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, both of whom were crucial in their attempts to win the ball back.

As poor as he has been this season, Joao Palhinha would be perfect for that ball-winning midfielder role, which would leave space for just one of Gray or Bergvall to play alongside him.

Palhinha has made 96 tackles in the Premier League this season, which is more than any other midfielder, while also featuring among the top 25 per cent of players for clearances per 90.

In comparison, Bergvall has won just 20 tackles this season, while Gray has 11, which places him in the bottom 12 per cent of Premier League midfielders.

Who is most likely to drop out of the team?

Assuming that De Zerbi adopts the same tactical identity as he has done throughout his career, Bergvall would make the most sense to play alongside Palhinha.

The Swede has completed 70 per cent of his attempted dribbles this season, which is a crucial aspect of the role he would be asked to play.

There may still be use for Gray either at wing-back or at centre-back, but he looks set to be another casualty of a Tottenham managerial change, through no wrongdoing of his own.