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Tim Sherwood says Roberto De Zerbi is better for Tottenham than Mauricio Pochettino, but there’s a caveat

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Tim Sherwood is a massive fan of Roberto De Zerbi, but he is worried that his style of football will not suit what Tottenham need now.

The former Spurs boss says he would have picked the Italian head coach over Mauricio Pochettino long-term, but questions whether he is what they need now.

🚨 END IN TEARS or KEEP SPURS UP: Is Roberto De Zerbi the right appointment?

Roberto De Zerbi applauds the fans at the final whistle during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Bramall Lane.
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images

De Zerbi is known for playing expansive and brave football, but Sherwood thinks that Spurs need a coach who plays more safely.

Tottenham have been dreaming of appointing De Zerbi, and after offering him a five-year contract, they look set to land the Italian manager.

Tim Sherwood is worried about Tottenham appointing Roberto De Zerbi

Tim Sherwood is worried about Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi now, given his attack-minded style of football.

The ex-Premier League coach says the Italian is a brilliant coach and long-term he could do great things, but right now the club need a ‘safe pair of hands’.

When asked why he has concerns over De Zerbi, Sherwood told Sky Sports News: “Oh, because he has so little time, for anyone going in there, you have to put a question mark on it, because there are only seven games left.

“I like him, I really do, I like his personality, I said many months ago that he would be the man to come into Tottenham, I would have picked him over Mauricio Pochettino for the long-term.

🤔 Can Roberto De Zerbi keep Spurs in the Premier League with this line up?

Spurs under De Zerbi

“He plays that style which Tottenham want, he opens up the pitch, but not now. That style is not what they need now. They need a safe pair of hands; this is far from a safe pair of hands, by the way.

“I still like him, I love his personality and the way his teams play, but they can be open and get hammered – you can’t get hammered now.”

Tottenham had been looking at Harry Redknapp and Sean Dyche as short-term options, and perhaps they would have been more suited to the task of keeping the club up.

However, Spurs have now bypassed that and are looking long-term following positive talks with De Zerbi over taking charge now.

De Zerbi’s first game as Spurs manager will be away at Sunderland just after the international break ends, with the club just one point above the bottom three.