With only one point separating Tottenham Hotspur from the drop zone, Roberto De Zerbi has taken over the ruins left behind by Igor Tudor.

The Italian tactician has penned a five-year deal at White Hart Lane, making him the third-highest-paid manager in the Premier League after Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta. This is a clear statement of intent from the Spurs board, convincing a highly-regarded tactician to become their permanent head coach rather than going for another interim appointment after the failed Igor Tudor experiment.

With only seven games remaining, the 46-year-old has no time or space to mess around. Roberto De Zerbi has little over eight days to assess his squad and prepare them for the tricky trip to Sunderland on April 12. He must show tactical flexibility to get the best out of the squad available at his disposal, as players are certain to take time to get used to his philosophy and demands.

Fans witnessed Tottenham’s injury problems easing before the international break. A few injured players, such as Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall, made their return to the squad. Yet, there are still some key stars on the sidelines, including Rodrigo Bentancur.

Having been a...