Roberto de Zerbi is here. He led Spurs in defeat against Sunderland on Sunday. Now he is set to take on his former club Brighton in his first home game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow .
I raised my concerns about this appointment prior to it being confirmed. Worries remain. Mason Greenwood related, football related, and personality related. I also thought that when asked in club media about it, de Zerbi handled the Greenwood issue fairly well. Not perfectly. Far from it. Kate Mason articulately explained the problems for The Athletic.
An Ok, but Not Great, Answer
Like Mason, I was not wild on de Zerbi adding “or violence against anyone more broadly,” when saying “I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women”. It’s the same as I get frustrated when people say “and all forms of racism” after condemning antisemitism. The first part of the answer is reasonable, albeit slightly diminished by the second.
Another not great bit was: “I am sorry if I offended anyone’s feelings with this subject matter — I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that, over time, people will get to know me better and will understand that, at that moment, I didn’t mean to take a stance.” It’s a bit of a wishy-washy apology/non-apology. And Mason is right that de Zerbi should take a stance on violence against women.
However, I do appreciate that de Zerbi has confronted this. I think there is genuine remorse and the ability to learn in his answer, given in Italian so as not slip up. As I’ve always argued, in liberal societies people get a second chance. It is also worth reiterating the de Zerbi himself is not accused of any violence against a woman. That has rather been lost in some of the current discourse.
The issue of violence against women can, and should, be dealt with at a club level too. Hopefully we will see donations and other work in that regard.
Martin Ho on Roberto de Zerbi
That brings me to the women’s team. Ahead of his side’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea, manager Martin Ho was asked about Roberto de Zerbi’s comments on Mason Greenwood. I didn’t think his answer was great. I didn’t particularly like him being asked in the first place, either. Yes, he is a representative of a group of female athletes, but it tends to be better to let women speak for ourselves. It’s also not for Ho to answer on behalf of his men’s team counterpart.
In response, Ho said he considered de Zerbi “a world class manager” who he would support in any way possible to help the men’s side stay in the Premier League. He then told journalists to ask the men’s manager himself. My understanding is that the has not been any further discussion on the women’s side of the club now that the Italian is in place. Fair enough, really. It’s not for them to fix this problem.
Get Behind the Team
Roberto de Zerbi made his Mason Greenwood comments when France. Much as we all disliked them, he is now at Spurs. Greenwood is not.
As fans, we have had a miserable season and want to feel some excitement again. I know I do. As Kate Mason rightly highlighted, we are all tribal and are somewhat conflicted when put in these situations – whether it’s Gazza, Rafa van Der Vaart or a new manager coming in.
I’d have preferred if Roberto de Zerbi had not been the choice to replace Igor Tudor. It could all end in disaster. But he has confronted his previous errors. He seems to have some understanding of the criticism. I will get behind him and the team.