Roberto De Zerbi has come out swinging in defense of Tottenham Hotspur's massive transfer investment this summer, insisting that rival clubs have long harbored a desire to see the north London side fail and that this hostility has fueled his squad's determination heading into the new campaign.
Spurs are set to eclipse £300m in outlay after a flurry of high-profile arrivals, headlined by Sandro Tonali for £92.5m, Mateus Fernandes for £85m, and Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m. Manchester City duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush are also expected to complete moves worth £85m and £75m respectively, further swelling what has become the club's most ambitious rebuild in over a decade.
The spending follows two turbulent seasons in which Tottenham hovered dangerously close to the relegation zone, ultimately requiring victory on the final day last term to preserve their Premier League status. De Zerbi, appointed at the end of March in what was widely viewed as a rescue operation, has used that near-miss as motivation throughout preseason preparations.
"I don't know why the people don't love if Tottenham becomes better," De Zerbi said. "It's one motivation more for us. Last season, all other clubs wanted to kill us. Every week we have to remember last season."
The Italian coach revealed that discussions about incoming transfer targets began even before his appointment was formally confirmed, with conversations dating back to March. He framed this transfer window as a pivotal juncture for a club that had flirted with disaster, insisting wholesale change was necessary to shift the club's trajectory.
This summer's activity marks Tottenham's most significant window since 2013, when the club reinvested proceeds from Gareth Bale's world-record sale to Real Madrid into signings such as Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado. That outlay of £80.3m, however, is dwarfed by the scale of the current overhaul.
"After two seasons like we [had], we have to change the mood, completely change it, give a boost," De Zerbi explained.
The Tottenham head coach also pushed back against criticism of the club's financial approach, arguing that heavy investment is a prerequisite for competing at the elite level of European football. "I've heard too many times Tottenham money, Tottenham money, but I loved football for a long time and I didn't see any team competing for the high level without spending money," he said. "Maybe if Tottenham spend money [it] is a problem in the Premier League? I don't know why, but all the other teams have spent money in the past and also in this season."
De Zerbi indicated the club's business is not yet complete, with additional forwards expected to arrive as Tottenham look to build a squad capable of challenging for major honors both domestically and in Europe. "When we have finished in this transfer market, for a long time we don't need many things and we can work all together in the right condition, in the right direction, to build step by step something special, or anyway to go to compete for the top of the table," he said. "Not maybe now – or maybe yes; I don't know. But we have the squad to play in every stadium."
Off the pitch, Tottenham have also undergone a leadership change following Cristian Romero's departure to Atlético Madrid. Micky van de Ven has been handed the captaincy, though he will be sidelined for Saturday's away trip to Brentford through injury. De Zerbi has established a broader leadership group featuring vice-captain Pedro Porro, who is also currently injured, alongside Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.