De Zerbi desperate for Tottenham to beat Brighton: ‘The players have to feel what it’s like to win again’

Roberto De Zerbi is desperate for Tottenham to taste that winning feeling again, irrespective of what it does to their hopes staying up.

De Zerbi takes charge of Spurs for the second time tomorrow and welcomes his former club Brighton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a game that feels must-win given the other fixtures this weekend.

Relegation rivals Leeds and Nottingham Forest host bottom two, Wolves and Burnley, respectively while on Monday West Ham go to a Crystal Palace side that were spotted partying after their Conference League win over Fiorentina in Italy last night.

Spurs have not won in the Premier League since December 28 when Thomas Frank was still in charge – Igor Tudor has subsequently been and gone – and De Zerbi knows three points tomorrow would do wonders for the squad’s morale.

“I think it’s crucial to win a game, not just for the table,” he said. “But also because we have to feel again, what is nice [feeling] to win a game and what that can do.”

De Zerbi hopes team bonding exercise will help struggling Tottenham

De Zerbi took his players out for dinner this week and says he is happy to do so again if they can see off Brighton.

“If we win, I am ready to pay every week for one dinner,” said the Italian. “I believe in the people, the human relationship, the spirit and the soul of the players. Before we speak about tactical stuff, possession, set-pieces, these things are important but I work with people.

“There are a lot of players but we need to build or find the best relationship we can find and I want to see on the pitch, players that help their team-mates towards one target. If we don’t achieve our target, everyone will lose something in their career.”

Spurs captain Cristian Romero is out for the season, and could miss the World Cup, after clashing with Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey last weekend and De Zerbi says he feels the Argentine’s pain.

“I’m really sorry for him and his injury,” said De Zerbi. ”First of all, the people have to know he’s suffering because of this injury and because he can’t play anymore for us this season. He’s a great captain for us and for Tottenham. We have to be positive, we have Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, they are very good to play and give us quality with the ball.”

De Zerbi impressed with impact of injured Maddison

James Maddison is closing in on a return having taken part in training this week and De Zerbi has been impressed with the former Leicester City playmaker’s influence within the squad.

De Zerbi said: “There are a lot of different type of leader, real leaders who talk inside the dressing room. Maddison is a top player on the pitch with the ball but also as a personality, mentality on the pitch.

“I would like to reach this level for Micky van de Ven, [Joao] Palhinha is a leader, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, I would like to push with [Dominic] Solanke, he is one of the best strikers in Premier League. I want him stronger as a character on the pitch.”

As important as he is, De Zerbi says he won’t rush Maddison’s return. “I don’t want to push too much as we lost [Mohammed] Kudus in this way. I will use the players when they are totally available to play and start the training, it’s better to lose one game more than get another injury.”

Tottenham start the weekend in 18th place following last week’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.

They are two points behind West Ham, three adrift of Forest and six behind Leeds, who won at Manchester United on Monday night.