Roberto De Zerbi has reiterated that he will remain as Tottenham manager regardless of whether they are relegated to the Championship this weekend.
Upon signing a five-year deal to take over from interim manager Igor Tudor at the end of March, De Zerbi insisted he would be at the club “no matter what” next season.
Given the position Spurs found themselves in when he took over - one point above the relegation zone with seven games to go - and the managerial turmoil the club has undergone in the last 18 months, De Zerbi was keen to offer assurances.
That said, heading into the final day of the season, he would not have expected Spurs’ Premier League safety to still be hanging in the balance.
Spurs are two points above the relegation zone and know that should they fail to beat Everton at home, West Ham would have the opportunity to leapfrog them into 17th place.
The club is in a precarious position, yet De Zerbi is adamant he would have been happy had he been offered the club’s current situation at the start of his tenure.
“I didn't come here in midtable,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s match at home to Everton.
“The situation was this, more games but not too different a situation.
“If I came it was because I thought there are the right conditions,the right qualities and players to achieve the target.”
De Zerbi has consistently made a point of not looking too far ahead. Spurs’ plight has been all consuming for the former Brighton man.
But when asked, he sought to clarify that his ambitions at the club remained long-term irrespective of whether he was able to keep Spurs up.
“Yes, I confirm everything. For me, it’s still an honour to be a coach for Tottenham, even if on Sunday we play for the relegation fight, it’s not a problem.
“I consider football something more than the table, than the level of the game.”
