Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi says he is not better than predecessors Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor, ahead of his first game in charge of the Premier League strugglers. 

De Zerbi put pen to paper on a reported five-year contract at the end of last month, with Tudor departing after only claiming one point from his five league matches at the helm.

The former Marseille boss takes over a Spurs side that sit inside the relegation zone after West Ham's 4-0 thrashing of bottom club Wolves on Friday. 

De Zerbi has won his first league game at three of the last four clubs he has been in charge of (Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk and Marseille) with the only exception coming in the Premier League with Brighton (3-3 v Liverpool), failing to win any of his first five league encounters with the Seagulls in 2022 (D2 L3).

In addition, only one of the last 10 Spurs managers have lost their first Premier League game in charge of the club (W6 D3), however that was Tudor (1-4 v Arsenal in February).

The Italian is Spurs' third manager of the season, and his first match at the helm comes this Sunday in a tricky trip to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland. 

"I am not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor. I consider them very good coaches, but I try to bring my style, myself, my character, personality and passion to help the players show their quality," he said in his first press conference as Spurs boss.

"And then to achieve our target. The most important part is the target [avoid relegation]. My style is one part. One part is the style of play and the other part is about the character and personality.

"I don't have time for principles or build-up, I want to give organisation with the ball and without the ball. What I want to do and what I want to achieve is the character.

"The right spirit, courage to play and attack. The DNA of this club and squad is to find the goal, to score. In this part, I will be able to transfer my principle."

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Sunderland signed off for the international break with a 2-1 win over rivals Newcastle United, moving them up to 11th in the Premier League and within six points of the top five. 

Chemsdine Talbi and Brian Brobbey's second-half strikes cancelled out Anthony Gordon's 10th-minute opener to continue their impressive record at the home of their rivals. 

But Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris acknowledged the task ahead of his players, especially with De Zerbi now in charge of Spurs. 

"He is a great coach, has strong experience, good ideas and a clear identity. He will be the best version of Roberto De Zerbi if he is himself, not someone else," Le Bris said. 

"So I think he will go all the way and it will be interesting. Performance in football is complex. It's often a question of confidence, belief.

"Psychology is important. Probably the most important thing is to implement this belief.

"Tottenham are a big club, but they have struggled to generate momentum this season, and you never know how you create this vicious circle of injuries, efficiency, doubts.

"It means that this league is unforgiving, really demanding, it is hard to break. They have good quality, but when you have doubts it is hard."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sunderland – Chemsdine Talbi 

Talbi has scored four Premier League goals this season and the youngster will be out to add to his tally at the Stadium of Light this weekend. 

The only player to score more while aged 20 or younger in a single campaign in the competition for Sunderland is Danny Welbeck in 2010-11 (six).

Tottenham – Richarlison

Richarlison has scored nine Premier League goals this season and could hit double figures for the fifth time in the competition, after 2018-19 (13), 2019-20 (13), 2021-22 (10), and 2023-24 (11).

He would be the second Brazilian to score 10+ goals five times in the Premier League, after former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.

MATCH PREDICTION: SUNDERLAND WIN

Following their 1-1 draw in January, Sunderland are looking to avoid defeat in both Premier League meetings with Spurs in a season for the first time since 2008-09 (W1 D1).

The Black Cats come into the clash in good form too, having won two of their last three Premier League games (L1), as many as their previous 12 beforehand (W2 D5 L5). They could win back-to-back league matches for only the second time this season, last doing so in October.

However, it has been at home where they have struggled. Sunderland have lost each of their last three Premier League home games but have not lost more league games in a row at the Stadium of Light since September 2017 in the Championship (four), and they last did so in the top flight in October 2013 (also four).

But they come up against a Spurs side who remain winless in 13 Premier League games (D5 L8). Only once in their league history have they had a longer run without victory, going 16 matches without winning from December 1934 to April 1935.

They may be more confident here, though, given exactly two-thirds of their points in the league this season have come away from home (20/30). Only Ipswich Town in 2024-25 have ever had a higher proportion of their points in a season in the competition come on their travels (68% - 15/22).

Spurs are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games against Sunderland (W10 D5) since a 3-1 loss in April 2010, and another win here would certainly be welcomed as they battle to remain in the division. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sunderland – 43.2%

Draw – 26.7%

Tottenham – 30.1%