Roberto De Zerbi has officially taken the helm as the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur, signing a five-year deal with the club. In his first public address since his confirmation on Tuesday, De Zerbi expressed his enthusiasm and commitment to the role. Speaking on Wednesday, alongside his first official picture in Tottenham colours, the Italian manager conveyed his happiness and pride. "Hello to all the Tottenham fans. I'm very happy to stay here with you," De Zerbi stated. "For me, it's an honour and [I'm] very proud to be your coach. I want to give my best. I want to stay for a long time in this big club. See you soon."

De Zerbi's immediate priority is to steer the Spurs side away from a looming relegation battle. The club currently sits 17th in the Premier League table, perilously close to the bottom three with just a single point separating them, and only seven games remaining in the season. The squad members who have been on international duty are scheduled to return to training at Hotspur Way on Friday, giving De Zerbi just over a week to prepare with his full team before his inaugural match. His first game in charge will be against Sunderland on April 12.

Adding to the challenges, De Zerbi has already been dealt an injury blow to an already depleted squad. Midfielder Pape Sarr reportedly suffered a shoulder problem during Senegal's game against Gambia, according to Senegalese media, and was consequently left out of the match. Sarr's injury means he will join a substantial list of Tottenham players currently on the treatment table, including key figures such as Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, and Mohammed Kudus.