Credit: Imago

James Barker

Sat 4 April 2026 15:10, UK

Victor Wanyama admits that Roberto De Zerbi might need to “compromise principles” at Tottenham Hotspur, but “firmly” believes the Italian is the right man for the job.

The 46-year-old De Zerbi has been afforded a healthy amount of time to get his Tottenham team ready for his first game in charge, which comes on 12 April away at Sunderland.

Signing a five-year contract, the former Marseille manager has not only won the trust of Spurs chiefs in the short-term, but also for the long-term too.

As such, it looks unlikely the Club would be able to afford to rip De Zerbi’s contract up this summer if they’re relegated, but handing him a five-year deal suggests that’s not what they nor he would want.

However, with just seven games to play, De Zerbi knows that time will not be afforded to him between now and the end of the season, and that results and performances must improve instantly.

What has Victor Wanyama said about Roberto De Zerbi?

De Zerbi is expected to make big transfer changes to his Tottenham squad in the summer, regardless of what division his team are playing in for 2026-27.

That’s needed to, as so many in Lilywhite shirts have underperformed and let supporters down this term, and as a result, many likely won’t survive the imminent summer cull.

De Zerbi is renowned for the tactical impact he’s had on the Premier League from his Brighton days, where his pressing system that was designed to trap opposition teams soon caught on.

In fact, if you listen to other managers talk about De Zerbi, many will point to him as being a main influence on their own tactical philosophy.

To play for him requires players to be students of the game, and he’s not a coach particularly known for making comprises when it comes to how he wants his teams to play, and what he expects from his players.

However, as cited by respected Tottenham reporter Chris Cowlin via X, former Spurs midfielder Wanyama believes that whilst he’s certain De Zerbi will be a success, making some comprises to his key principles may be required.

“I firmly believe he is the right man for Tottenham. He can keep them up, 100 per cent,” Wanyama said.

“He may need to compromise principles at first, but he is very experienced, he knows what is missing and what is necessary.”

Wanyama might be right, but De Zerbi may not compromise

Now 44, Wanyama speaks a lot of sense here, and makes a fair point regarding De Zerbi’s potential need to make some compromises in the pursuit of Premier League survival.

However, knowing that he’s also the manager Tottenham have entrusted for the long-term, it’s not as though he’s here to firefight, which in that case he would be more inclined to change whatever is necessary about his approach to get instant results.

Instead, De Zerbi probably knows either way that he’s going to be in place at N17 whatever happens, and so for good or for bad, sticking to his principles will weed out the weak, and reveal the players who can play for him.

So, whilst he may well make one or two adjustments to his style of play to try and get quick wins, it does feel difficult to see a coach like De Zerbi deviating significantly from his tried and trusted philosophy.