Unai Emery expects Tottenham to finish in the Premier League top four this season, offering a public vote of confidence in Roberto De Zerbi ahead of Aston Villa’s trip to North London. It is a bold call given Spurs’ sluggish start and the mounting scrutiny on De Zerbi, but the Villa boss was clear in his assessment.
Speaking to reporters in comments shared by Fabrizio Romano, Emery described De Zerbi as a fantastic manager who needs time and said the Spurs players are fantastic as well. His praise for the manager and squad accompanied his projection that Tottenham can finish in the top four.
A squad rebuilt, results still lagging
The backing arrives as Tottenham try to turn a heavy summer of spending into points. The recruitment drive under De Zerbi has been substantial: Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Sávio, Jan-Paul van Hecke, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Omar Marmoush, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dúbravka have all arrived to reshape a squad intended to challenge for Champions League football again.
The new signings have not yet consistently delivered positive results, leaving supporters frustrated by early dropped points. The underlying idea – intense positional play, high-risk buildup and fluid attacking rotations – is recognisably De Zerbi, even if results have not yet followed.
Why the timing matters
Emery’s comments come before his Villa side face Spurs, with both clubs still searching for their first league win of the campaign. He highlighted Tottenham’s potential, their recruitment and the time needed for the players to become compact and understand the idea.
Whether that patience is shared inside the Tottenham fanbase is another matter. The positional and rotational principles associated with De Zerbi’s approach can take time to click. Emery’s view is that Spurs have the talent and framework to improve, while supporters await results.
