De Zerby: Maddison has minor issues; Tottenham still needs reinforcements.

Tottenham Hotspur are about to face Chelsea in Sydney, and De Zerbi attended the pre-match press conference.

Could you please tell me about Franco Baresi (the legendary AC Milan and Italian defender who passed away today)...

De Zerbi: "I grew up in Milan's youth academy, and when I was 15 or 16, I worked a lot with the first team. He also comes from my city. I think he is the best defender in the world, a great captain, a great player. I am really very sad."

This is a bit shocking, he's so young...

"Yes. He is the captain of Milan and the captain of the national team. For many people, I have spoken to many players today, they do not know him and have never seen him as a player, but he is incredible, perhaps even better than Paolo Maldini, who was another top-tier player, but he is truly incredible."

Back at Tottenham, we didn't see Maddison on the pitch. How close is he to returning to training?

“Madison has a minor issue, and as I’ve said before, I don’t want to take any risks, especially at this stage of the season, particularly for Madison because he had a long injury last season. He’s important to us, but the situation is the same for him and Matthäus Fernández. Now is not the right time to take risks. We’ll continue training once we get back to London.”

What are your realistic goals for the 2026/27 season, and how ambitious are you?

“I’ll answer that question after the transfer window closes. Honestly, I think we’re a very strong team with great players. We’re waiting for those players who just finished the World Cup to return, whether it’s Senesi, Bentancur, or Papua Sarr, and then we’ll get to work. Like I said, we need to work on two fronts: mentality and style of play, because this season is different from last season. This season we have to play with a clear idea and a clear organization, and within that clear organization, the best players can shine. We have a lot of top players, so we have to improve our style of play.”

How much inspiration did Franco Baresi give you?

"Not in terms of position on the field, because he's a defender and I'm a forward, but in terms of personality, especially as a leader. I think his leadership, whether he speaks or not, is incredible, and he has a strong personal charisma."

Tottenham fans are very excited about the news that there will be big signings in the transfer window. Can you provide more details?

"Sure, but the Italian word for 'blockbuster' is different from the English one. I think you can write it however you like, no problem, and there's no pressure, but as I said, we have to complete the transfer market. I think we still need a few more players to complete the squad, and they'll be joining the team in the next few days. For me, top players, I don't know if their expectations will be higher than they were two days ago, but we have to keep moving forward, thinking about the interests of the team, the club, and the squad. However, in Italian, it has a different meaning."

How is it defined in Italian?

“I think Tonali, Matthäus Fernández, Senesi, and Robertson are all big signings. For me, they are all top players.”

You said you've completed about 60% of the transfer window. Now that you've signed 6 players, can we expect another 4?

"I think two, maybe three."

Will the pressure be greater?

"We're not under pressure. You know why? One day, I was stopped by a taxi driver in London who congratulated me on my transfer activity this window, and then he said, 'Hey, you guys spent a lot of money.' I asked him, 'Which team do you support?' Arsenal—you've been spending a lot of money for the past three or four years. I think Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal have all spent money to stay at the top of the table. If you want to compete for a top spot in the Premier League now, if you want to take Tottenham to a higher level, I think you need to bring in top players like we are now."

In what areas do you think Gallagher can continue to grow and become an even better player than he is now?

“I see Gallagher as a top player and a top person. Sometimes you don’t know a person, but in the locker room, I think being a good person and an honest person is more important than being a good player. He is both a good player and a good person. Maybe in the attacking third, he is more capable than he thinks, or more than he is showing right now. He can score more goals. But when Gallagher is in good form and feeling good, as I said last season, and I’m repeating it now, we are playing with an extra player because he is like two people.”

We see that many young players have been selected for this tour. How important is it for you to nurture them in such a professional environment?

“This level is crucial for a club like Tottenham because when you're playing in the Champions League, Europa League, and other European competitions, it's extremely important to meet the Financial Fair Play (FFP) roster requirements. Sometimes people forget the FFF rules, but developing players from the academy is critical. Right now we're looking at three or four players I think have a lot of potential, like Williams Barnett, Malachi Hardy, and Mikai Moore, even though he's a bit older. It's part of my job, and I'll do it with the same passion, the same attention to detail, and the same attitude because they're important for the present and the future of the club.”