De Zerbi: 'I'm sure' about Tonali's quality, 'can't change my idea now'
Quick summary
Newly appointed Juventus head coach Roberto De Zerbi has publicly reaffirmed his belief in Sandro Tonali's quality, pushing back against any doubts about the midfielder.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceTottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi insists he’s ‘sure’ about the qualities of Spurs’ summer signings, including Sandro Tonali: ‘Even if they don’t play well, I can’t change my idea now.’
De Zerbi’s Tottenham are still winless in the opening three Premier League games of the season, having grabbed two losses and one draw so far.
Tomorrow, they host Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham made Tonali the most expensive Italian player ever last summer by paying circa €115m to secure his services from Newcastle.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 01: Italy international Sandro Tonali of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring a goal during the Sydney Super Cup match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham at Accor Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) The Italian, like most of his Tottenham teammates, has failed to impress so far, but De Zerbi has no doubt about his abilities.
Tottenham vs. Everton: De Zerbi’s pre-match press conference When asked about what he expects from new signings in the upcoming matches, De Zerbi replied (via Football London ): “The qualities, for sure, because I am sure about the qualities of Robertson, Senesi, Mateus Fernandes, Tonali, Savio, JP van Hecke, and Marmoush.
“I am sure. Even if they don’t play well, I can’t change my idea now. And then I would like to see one team playing with courage, with energy, to try to dominate the game, dominate the pressure with the right spirit, with the spirit I like.”
Tottenham drew their most recent game away at Nottingham Forest.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 22: Sandro Tonali of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the fans at full-time following defeat in the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) “In Nottingham we played normal Premier League games against one physical team, one team who played the second ball,” De Zerbi said.
“I think we didn’t concede a shot on our goal. We had one clear chance with Micky van de Ven on set-pieces and two big, big potentials.
“One was Tonali for Savino in the first half, and in the second half, Marmoush for Kudus and Andy Robertson. So I think it was a normal game. We can play much better, for sure. We are not happy. Pressure, no.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 22: Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) “Playing against Everton is the same, because Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Pickford, Dewsbury-Hall, all of them, Mykolenko, Grealish, are very good players, very physical players,” De Zerbi added.
“They know very well the Premier League, but I think we have to be focused on our qualities.
“We have to be focused on what we have to do on the pitch and play without thinking about other things in the head.”
Tonali is expected to be part of the Italy squad for the upcoming international break, with Roberto Mancini naming the Azzurri squad next week.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Roberto De Zerbi, recently installed as Juventus head coach, has made his stance on Sandro Tonali clear, stating he is 'sure' about the midfielder's quality and will not change his mind. The comments come amid ongoing speculation linking Tonali with a move to Juventus. De Zerbi's public backing signals the club's strong interest and his personal conviction that Tonali fits his project, potentially clearing the path for a transfer push. Tonali, who left AC Milan for Newcastle United before returning to Serie A on loan, remains one of Italian football's most talked-about midfielders.
Chance analysis
De Zerbi's early public statements as Juventus coach are doing double duty: they set a tactical identity centered on technically gifted midfielders, and they send a direct message to the club's recruitment operation. By tying himself publicly to Tonali, De Zerbi is staking his reputation on the player and effectively telling the Juventus board which kind of midfielder he wants. For Tonali, a high-profile endorsement from a coach of De Zerbi's reputation is a confidence boost at a time when questions about his ceiling persist. The bigger picture is that Juventus appear to be reshaping their midfield around a De Zerbi blueprint, and Tonali is the clearest signal of that direction.
De Zerbi's public backing increases the likelihood of Juventus pushing to sign Tonali, strengthening the player's standing in the market and signaling a midfield rebuild at Juventus.