Roberto de Zerbi arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in March with the immediate task of avoiding Premier League relegation, and having achieved that, has used the close season to reshape the squad and refine his tactical approach ahead of a bid to push higher up the table. His methods, which drew widespread admiration when he first introduced them at Brighton in 2022, centre on patient, deliberate build-up play from the back designed to draw opponents forward before exploiting space with quick, incisive passing.

Since De Zerbi's ideas proved so effective in the Premier League, rival coaches have adapted, often setting up narrow defensive blocks to cut off the central passing lanes his teams rely on. In response, De Zerbi has tweaked his approach in pre-season, using wide full-backs and shifting play through midfield to unlock deep, compact defences, as demonstrated in Spurs' 3-0 pre-season win over Hoffenheim. He has also strengthened the squad with six new signings this summer as he looks to build a team capable of executing his evolving tactical vision.