Roberto De Zerbi led Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-1 Premier League win over Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on 2026-05-03, his second straight victory since taking charge. [1]
Tottenham have now had three managers this season — Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor and De Zerbi — and the new coach has quickly imposed a different style. His changes have simplified players’ decisions and lifted confidence in the squad. [1]
Against Villa, De Zerbi set Spurs up to press hard and block central lanes, after identifying how Villa like to build play through the middle before speeding up. Richarlison helped lead the press by cutting off passes into right-sided midfielder Lamare Bogarde and shaping his body to prevent Emiliano Martinez from playing to the right. [1]
Conor Gallagher marked Youri Tielemans, while Rodrigo Bentancur stepped up from midfield to join Richarlison on Bogarde. Up front, Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel pressed Villa defenders and tried to shut down passing angles. [1]
The coordinated press forced Villa to push play into the crowded centre of the pitch, where Tottenham were able to defend with control. Spurs also handled Villa’s attempts to drop forwards into central areas without trouble, and the home side’s attack lost much of its threat. [1]
Tottenham will look to build on the win in their next match, with De Zerbi’s methods already showing clear results after back-to-back victories. [1]
