Igor Tudor’s tenure on the Tottenham bench could not have gone worse. The Croatian coach arrived with the goal of turning things around to avoid struggling in the Premier League and to compete in the Champions League. But he failed to achieve either objective, and with the team just one point above the relegation zone, the Spurs’ management had no choice but to look for a replacement.

Right now, the goal is clear: to secure survival in the Premier League. With seven matches remaining, that is the first thing the new manager must achieve. Roberto De Zerbi has signed a five-year contract through 2031, but everything hinges on his ability to keep Tottenham in the top tier of English soccer.

His debut will be away against Sunderland, followed by a home match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against an old acquaintance of his, Brighton. In his third match, he will travel to face the bottom-placed team, Wolves. These are three matches that could determine the Londoners’ future, as a positive turnaround could give them breathing room in the final month of the season.

A Bet on the Future

The fact that they’ve offered him the remainder of this season plus a five-year contract shows that Tottenham’s move isn’t just a stopgap to avoid relegation. His previous work at Brighton and Olympique de Marseille speaks for itself, which is why the Spurs want to hand him the reins of the team.

Despite this, the immediate future takes precedence, and for Roberto De Zerbi to establish himself as Tottenham’s manager, the first priority is to avoid relegation to the Championship. It would be a disaster for the club. If he succeeds, next season will start from scratch, without European competition, allowing him to build a project from the ground up with him at the helm.

Tottenham’s remaining matches to finish the season

• Sunderland - Tottenham
• Tottenham - Brighton
• Wolves - Tottenham
• Aston Villa - Tottenham
• Tottenham - Leeds United
• Chelsea - Tottenham
• Tottenham - Everton