Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear what the Tottenham Hotspur job means to him ahead of his first game in charge of the North London club.

Roberto De Zerbi has accepted the Tottenham job even though the Lilywhites find themselves mired deep in relegation trouble.

What is even more surprising is that there is no release clause in the Italian’s five-and-a-half-year contract.

De Zerbi has vowed to stay in charge of the club even if they are in the Championship next season, although that outcome is something he will be desperate to avoid.

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The Tottenham Hotspur boss will have had 10 days to prepare for the Sunderland clash, and he will hope for an instant reaction from his side when they take to the field at the Stadium of Light.

De Zerbi is certainly not short of motivation ahead of the challenge, describing it as the most important of his managerial career so far.

The new Spurs boss told the club’s official website: “Many times, I said that football is my life and my life is football, but it’s true, because football is my work.

“I respect football because football gave me everything. For me, it’s not a real work, it’s a...