MusaJan Paul van Hecke has revealed that Roberto De Zerbi has quickly become a popular figure among Tottenham Hotspur players, following a playful moment in which Pedro Porro kissed the Italian manager on the back of his neck.
Tottenham appear to be growing in confidence under their former Brighton boss, collecting seven points from their last three matches. Their impressive run reached another high point on Saturday night when Spurs produced a commanding display to beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The victory was particularly significant, as it marked only Tottenham’s second win at Chelsea’s home ground in their previous 42 visits.
De Zerbi’s side delivered an outstanding performance in the London derby, controlling proceedings against Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea. Spurs enjoyed 68.5 per cent possession, completed 639 passes compared to the hosts’ 287, and registered 15 shots while limiting Chelsea to just seven.
Tottenham also demonstrated their physical superiority, winning 64 duels against Chelsea’s 45 and claiming 17 aerial battles, while the Blues managed just seven.
Their dominance was eventually rewarded when Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders turned a corner into his own net before Mathys Tel produced a superb individual effort late in the match to seal the three points. Chelsea’s task had also become more difficult following Cole Palmer’s red card.
The celebrations continued after the final whistle, with Porro providing one of the most amusing moments of the evening. As the Spanish defender made his way towards the team coach for the short journey home, he cheekily kissed the back of De Zerbi’s neck while the Tottenham manager was conducting an interview with the club.
The light-hearted gesture offered another indication of the positive atmosphere developing within the Spurs dressing room.
Van Hecke is familiar with De Zerbi’s personality and coaching methods, having worked with the Italian during their time together at Brighton. The 47-year-old manager previously described the Dutch defender as his son, highlighting the close relationship they developed on the south coast.
Speaking after Tottenham’s impressive victory, Van Hecke suggested that De Zerbi had already established a strong connection with his new players.
“Yeah, I think he’s loved. I love him as well. He’s a top manager and everyone’s really happy here,” the Dutch international said.
He also explained how his previous experience under De Zerbi has helped him understand the manager’s expectations and tactical approach.
“I know his ideas and how he wants to play. I know what he wants from me. We get better and better because it needs time, you know, but [the game at Stamford Bridge] was great.”
Van Hecke played an important role in Tottenham’s opening goal, with his involvement in the corner from Mateus Fernandes ultimately leading to Penders’ unfortunate own goal.
The centre-back was delighted with the result and believes the performance demonstrated the team’s progress while giving the travelling supporters plenty to celebrate.
“Everyone is buzzing. Massive result, I think fully deserved. We played some really, really good football. We worked really hard, I’m really happy,” the 26-year-old explained.
“It’s such a good feeling and the fans were loud and proud. You feel this on the pitch and you give even more.”
The Stamford Bridge victory could prove to be an important turning point in Tottenham’s campaign. After a difficult start to the season, De Zerbi’s team are beginning to move away from the lower reaches of the Premier League table and are now just four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Defensively, Tottenham also had plenty of reasons to celebrate. Van Hecke and fellow centre-back Micky van de Ven recorded their third clean sheet of the season, while Spurs kept their first clean sheet at Stamford Bridge since 1986.
Their defensive discipline was particularly impressive against a Chelsea side boasting considerable attacking talent and expensive summer additions.
Van Hecke acknowledged the importance of finally overcoming Tottenham’s long-standing struggles at Stamford Bridge, admitting that the record had provided the team with additional motivation before kick-off.
“It’s massive. We knew before the game that we hadn’t won here for a long time and this gives a lot of confidence,” he said.
The Dutchman added that the players were fully aware of the unwanted record and understood what ending it would mean to their supporters.
“In football, there are always good records and bad records. We knew [about the Chelsea hoodoo] because you see it everywhere, that gives you extra motivation. For the fans, of course, it’s a great day and for us as well. So enjoy today and tomorrow and then we need to keep going.”
With De Zerbi seemingly earning the trust of his squad, Tottenham will now hope to build on their impressive performance against Chelsea and maintain their upward momentum in the coming weeks.
The combination of improved performances, growing confidence and a positive dressing-room atmosphere will be encouraging signs for Spurs supporters as the Italian continues to implement his footballing philosophy.
Musa
