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Tottenham midfielder Conor Gallagher has opened up on the transformative impact Roberto De Zerbi has had on the club since taking charge during a turbulent season.
The England international believes the Italian’s unique approach was the catalyst for his recent exit from the Premier League relegation zone.
De Zerbi brings a personal touch
Spurs have won seven points from their first three games under the Italian coach, which has significantly increased their hopes of Premier League survival.
After a crucial 2-1 win over Aston Villa, midfielder Gallagher highlighted the manager’s commitment to individual development as the driving force behind his improved form.
“The coach was great with us. He brought the team together,” the 26-year-old told reporters of the atmosphere in the dressing room.
“He really worked on the players individually with one-on-one meetings and one-on-one discussions, trying to get the players’ confidence back. He did it with me and it made a big difference. I know he did it with a lot of other guys.”
Conor Gallagher Tottenham GFX (Getty/OBJECTIVE)
Rediscovering Chelsea’s form at Spurs
Former Chelsea player Gallagher, who joined Spurs from Atlético Madrid in January, scoring his first goal for the club at Villa Park, revealed De Zerbi used his past success to motivate him.
The Italian tactician specifically referenced Gallagher’s peak years in west London to remind the player of his inherent quality during those high-pressure months.
“He just reminds me of when I was at my best. He said in my 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.”
Unit on the training ground
The tactical change was just as important as the mental change, with Gallagher noting that De Zerbi’s meticulous nature on the training pitch kept the whole team pulling in the same direction.
Back-to-back wins over Wolves and Aston Villa suggest the message is finally being received loud and clear by a group that looked disjointed earlier in the campaign.
Reflecting on the collective progress, Gallagher said: “As a team as well, all the work he has done on the training pitch and in the meeting rooms has been fantastic and everyone is on the same page.”
Attention turns to Leeds clash
Despite the optimism surrounding the recent results, Gallagher has no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead.
Tottenham have managed to climb out of the bottom three, but the gap remains narrow and the pressure remains high ahead of their next match against Leeds.
“There is a lot of work to do,” warned the midfielder. “We are fully focused on the next match, we hope to have the same performance and another victory.”
