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Tottenham midfielder Conor Gallagher has opened up about the transformative influence Roberto De Zerbi has had at the club since taking the reins during a turbulent season.
The England international believes the Italian’s unique approach has been the catalyst for their recent climb out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.
De Zerbi brings a personal touch
Spurs have picked up seven points from their first three games under the Italian manager, giving their Premier League survival hopes a significant boost.
After a crucial 2-1 win over Aston Villa, midfielder Gallagher highlighted the manager’s commitment to individual development as the driving force behind their improved form.
“The gaffer has been brilliant with us. He has brought the team together,” the 26-year-old told reporters when discussing the atmosphere inside the dressing room.
“He’s really worked with players individually with one-on-one meetings and one-on-one chats, trying to get that faith and trust back into the players. He’s done that with me and it’s made a big difference. I know he’s done that with a lot of the other lads.”
Conor Gallagher Tottenham GFX (Getty/GOAL)
Rediscovering Chelsea form at Spurs
Ex-Chelsea player Gallagher, who joined Spurs from Atlético Madrid in January and scored his first goal for the club at Villa Park, revealed De Zerbi has used his past successes to motivate him.
The Italian tactician made specific reference to Gallagher’s peak years in West London to remind the player of his inherent quality in these high-pressure months.
“He just reminds me of when I was at my best. He said the second season at Chelsea when I had a really good season, he just reminded me of that player,” Gallagher explained. “He wants me to be like that again and not forget how good I can be.”
Unity on the training pitch
The tactical shift has been as important as the mental one, with Gallagher noting that De Zerbi’s meticulous nature on the training pitch has ensured the whole squad is pulling in the same direction.
Back-to-back wins against Wolves and Aston Villa suggest the message is finally being received loud and clear by a group that had looked disjointed earlier in the campaign.
Reflecting on the collective progress, Gallagher stated: “As a team, all the work he has done on the training ground and in the meeting rooms has been fantastic and everyone is on the same page.”
The focus shifts to the Leeds clash
Despite the optimism surrounding recent results, Gallagher is under no illusions about the challenges ahead.
Tottenham have managed to pull themselves out of the bottom three, but the gap remains small and the pressure remains high ahead of their next game against Leeds.
“There is a lot of work to do,” the midfielder warned. “We are fully focused on the next game, hopefully making the same performance and another win.”
