De Zerbi on Vicario's injury, battling relegation & bringing 'passion' to Spurs
Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (14:00 BST). Here are the key lines from his news conference: On Thursday, Spurs confirmed Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out of a return this weekend after suffering a setback in his come back from a quad injury picked up in January which will "potentially" require surgery. De Zerbi also confirmed Guglielmo Vicario is "not ready" to return yet, adding: "I hope he can come back next week, but I don't know yet.
" Rodrigo Bentancur is "working with us" but "not completely" and remains unavailable for selection. Reflecting on his appointment, the Italian said: "Proud and happy to be here. Thanks to Vinai [Venkatesham] and Johan [Lange] who have shown me a big confidence.
Now I have to work. Now we have to make points. I'm sure about the level of the players - many of them in the past I was close to bringing to my former teams.
They are working very well. I'm not better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor because I consider them very good coaches. I try and bring myself, my character, my passion.
" De Zerbi was asked if he had a message to the fans: "I haven't any message. In the last game they were fantastic before the game. The message for my staff and players is we have to deserve their support because the fans are suffering like us, like the players.