De Zerbi's Beer Order: How Tottenham's New Manager Is Building Bonds Before the Season
Roberto De Zerbi told his Tottenham players to put down the tactics board and pick up a pint. The Italian manager organised a team night out in Mayfair, London, where his squad could relax and socialise together before the new Premier League campaign kicks off — and midfielder James Maddison has been happy to talk about it.
Speaking to the BBC, Maddison revealed that De Zerbi encouraged the group to bond over some beers as they prepared for the season ahead. The night out in Mayfair was designed to let players unwind and get to know one another away from the training ground, with the manager reportedly keen that everyone joined in and had a drink together. Maddison, who had previously told Reuters he was excited to work under De Zerbi, has clearly warmed to the new man's approach. (BBC Sport)
It is an unusually relaxed tone for a manager with a reputation for obsessive tactical detail. De Zerbi's coaching philosophy revolves around adapting how his team builds up and plays depending on how the opponent defends — a flexible, reactive style that demands sharp understanding between players. Getting that chemistry right off the pitch, it seems, is part of getting it right on it. (BBC Sport)
Spurs need chemistry and then some. They finished 17th last season — a result that sits like a stain on a club of Tottenham's ambitions. De Zerbi has been brought in to lift them far above that, and the summer has been busy on more than just the social front.
The manager has been looking to strengthen his attack in the transfer window, and talks with forward Omar Marmoush were progressing, according to the BBC. De Zerbi also confirmed that forward Dejan Kulusevski is "fit and right," though he stayed cautious about a possible return date for the Swedish international. (BBC Sport, BBC Sport)
What makes the Mayfair night more than a footnote is the context. De Zerbi inherited a squad that underperformed badly last term and a fanbase desperate for something to feel good about. A manager who trusts his players with a round of drinks before the serious work begins is making a point: this group needs to come together before it can be taken apart and rebuilt on the training pitch.
For fans, the signal is clear enough. De Zerbi is not just installing a system — he is trying to build a team in the most literal sense. Whether the beer and bonding translate into points will be the story of the weeks ahead. But for a club that spent last season looking fractured, the image of players laughing together in a London bar is at least a start.
