Roberto De Zerbi credits team spirit for Tottenham’s turnaround

Roberto De Zerbi believes Tottenham’s turnaround in the Premier League is down to his new-look squad now being a team.

Spurs produced a professional display to beat 10-man Crystal Palace by a 2-0 score on Saturday to win three consecutive league games for the first time in 616 days.

A trip to Marbella last month has been the catalyst for this form and after £380million was committed on 10 new signings this summer by majority owners the Lewis family, De Zerbi believes Tottenham are finally a team again.

“I think even before the national break we were playing well,” De Zerbi said.

“We were playing maybe not 90 minutes, but many parts of the game we played very well. We didn’t score. We conceded a stupid goal and then we lost energy. We lost spirit. We lost the right union between the players.

“If we compare Tottenham before the national break and Tottenham after the national break, now we are playing as a team.

“Before the national break we were playing as many very good players, but not as a team.”

The growing camaraderie in this Spurs side has been evident and was again on Saturday with opening scorer Archie Gray mobbed by the home substitutes on the sideline after his 25th-minute headed goal.

Gray produced another accomplished display at right-back on the ninth occasion the 20-year-old has started out of position this season.

De Zerbi took off Gray at half-time, but it was down to a yellow card in the 15th minute.

“He’s improving a lot. After Manchester United, he’s playing very, very well and as a mature player,” De Zerbi said.

“I didn’t want to take a risk for another yellow card. I’m sorry because he was playing very well.

“I explained why I took the decision, but I think it was the right decision in that moment.”

Gray’s growing comfort at right-back has allowed De Zerbi and Tottenham to be patient with World Cup winner Pedro Porro, who missed the start of the campaign with a hamstring issue.

The same injury was aggravated in a September defeat to Aston Villa, but Porro is fit again and will be ready to start next week’s trip to Leeds if required.

De Zerbi explained: “Pedro is ready. We didn’t take risks. Speaking with him, he decided before the game (to not start) and he was very honest with me.

“And I appreciate a lot because the Premier League is 38 games, not one game.”

Porro and Destiny Udogie featured in tandem on opposite flanks during the second half in another sign of Spurs’ improved squad depth.

Both have been crucial to De Zerbi’s predecessors, but given Udogie has struggled with multiple fitness problems, the free signing of Andy Robertson in June has alleviated Spurs’ reliance on the Italian.

Robertson has produced a string of consistent performances and De Zerbi has challenged Udogie to stay fit for a sustained period.

He said: “With Udogie, hopefully we can work many weeks in a row. Until now, it was not possible.”