Roberto De Zerbi backs Tottenham to escape relegation battle

Tottenham sit 17th in the table, just one point above West Ham, with seven matches remaining. De Zerbi's first game in charge is away at Sunderland on Sunday 12 April, a crucial fixture in the battle to avoid relegation.

Speaking after his appointment, De Zerbi made his belief clear. "I'm very happy and very proud to be here," he said. "I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world.

"I have a big responsibility. It's a big challenge and I'm looking forward to working with the players and to win some games."

The Italian has already studied his new squad closely before taking charge. "I watched a lot of games, especially recently," he said. "I know the players very well. I know it's a tough moment for Tottenham. It's difficult for everyone at the club."

Despite their position near the bottom, De Zerbi insisted the squad had enough quality to recover. "I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment," he said. "I believe in the players.

"We have to remember who we are. We have very big players, and we have to work on their confidence. They have to show their qualities and what they are used to doing."

De Zerbi arrived in north London on March 31 after leaving Marseille the previous month. He had previously impressed at Brighton, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo, building a reputation for attacking football and strong player development.