Roberto de Zerbi managed Marseille between July 2024 and February 2026. Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi says he is "not better" than predecessors Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor as he prepares to take charge of his first game at the Premier League strugglers.

Sunderland will be Spurs' first opponents under the Italian, who was appointed on 31 March with the club one point outside the relegation zone with seven games remaining. De Zerbi is Tottenham's third manager of the season after Frank and Tudor - the latter only lasting 44 days and seven matches in the role.

"I am proud and happy to be here and I have to say thank you to Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange because they showed me a big, big confidence," said De Zerbi on Friday. "I'm sure about the level of the players because I was very, very close to bringing many of these players to my former teams in the past."

"I think I am not better than Frank or Tudor because I consider them very good coaches. I try to bring my style, my character, my personality and my strengths to achieve our target, which is the most important part now."

Tottenham have not won a domestic league game in 2026 and only two since 26 October 2025. They were also knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Atletico Madrid 7-5 on aggregate. Since 1950, Spurs have only spent one season outside the top flight, which was back in 1977-78.

"For me, it was a big opportunity because Tottenham are a very important club in the Premier League and the Premier League is the best league in the world," said De Zerbi, who previously managed Brighton between 2022 and 2024. "I love the qualities of the players and the crucial part that there was 12 days before the first game and for me it was important to have more than one week. I thought it would be important to understand the problems."

"The message for my staff and players is that we have to deserve the support because the fans are suffering like us. But for the fans, there is just one club. The players can change but for the fans, their club is unique. We have to make them happy with the right spirit and the right behaviour on the pitch. Then it's easier to make points."

Tottenham travel to the Stadium of Light to face 11th-placed Sunderland on Sunday (14:00 BST kick-off). Seven games to go - how will De Zerbi try to save Spurs?

What De Zerbi needs to do to turn Tottenham around. Mohammed Kudus is set to miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury. Tottenham's season has been hampered by injuries to key personnel, with creative forces Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison long-term absentees.

Striker Dominic Solanke was also sidelined for months with an ankle injury while Xavi Simons has also struggled with fitness in his debut season in England. Mohammed Kudus, who joined from West Ham in the summer, had a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury this week, which may require surgery and means he is unlikely to feature again this season.

"Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position but we have to look forward," De Zerbi said. "We have a lot of very good attackers but we have to help them and put them in the very best condition. I know Randal Kolo Muani isn't having a great season but he is a good player. I know him, like Mathys Tel, I wanted him when I was in Marseille."

"Simons is a big talent, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke you know better than me, so we have to put them in the best condition we can."

The Spurs boss also confirmed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will miss the trip to Sunderland after having hernia surgery during the international break. "I hope he can come back early next week, but I don't know yet," De Zerbi said. "Rodrigo Bentancur is working with us but not completely. But we have enough to fight and to play and to get points."

The 46-year-old said he "would like to stay for a long time" at the north London club. De Zerbi said: "I don't know how many years. In Marseille, my idea was to stay for a long time but then you have to speak with the club and when you have different views of the football or other things, you have to leave. In my plan, the idea is to stay for a long time. I'm not speaking about titles because it's not the right moment now, but to help Tottenham to stay in the Premier League."

This video can not be played De Zerbi on previous Tottenham coaches. Follow your club with BBC Sport. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast. Get football news sent straight to your phone. Comments can not be loaded. To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.