Roberto De Zerbi has scoffed at suggestions Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is too nice and is adamant Spurs can end their poor home on Monday against Leeds.
Tottenham’s survival prospects have been significantly lifted by back-to-back away wins, but they remain without a home victory in the Premier League since December 6.
The north London club have won only twice at home in the division all season and were seconds away from a third victory in De Zerbi’s debut in N17 before his old team Brighton produced a last-gasp equaliser.
Asked if the atmosphere at their ground might be part of the problem, De Zerbi insisted: “No, because there are a lot of big stadiums and very nice stadiums, like theatres in the Premier League.
“Tottenham’s stadium is hot. When I was in this stadium with Brighton, in the bench of Brighton, or against Brighton two weeks ago, the stadium was very, very hot.
“And for us, we are lucky to play in this stadium.
“The atmosphere against Brighton was amazing. The bottom of the (table), 60,000 fans to support you, to push you, to stay before the game, during the game, after the game, we have been very close with the (fans) and I think it’s luck for us.”
De Zerbi also pointed to Spurs’ 25-match unbeaten home record in Europe as evidence this season is a one-off.
He added: “I think it was a coincidence, because against Atletico Madrid, they won at home. Against Borussia Dortmund in January, they won at home.
“If you ask me against Brighton? We won, but we didn’t take three points. We took one point, but we won in my head as a performance and if we analyse the game against Brighton, it’s like a win. I think it’s a mistake if we keep the focus on this (poor home form) part.”
For Spurs to secure safety after a terrible campaign they will have to exorcise any demons at home in a similar manner to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who suffered a nightmare display in Madrid last month but has bounced back admirably.
With Guglielmo Vicario still sidelined after hernia surgery, Kinsky will continue against Leeds and De Zerbi cited him as an example to the whole squad.
“He has a big character, a big personality, a great guy, a great professional and a great keeper. He’s playing very well. He has to stay focused and don’t take risks in any situation, but he’s playing very well. He’s very important for us now,” De Zerbi explained.
“Of course he is an example. Of course what he felt after Madrid, for sure was a big motivation for him.”
De Zerbi described Vicario as still “first choice”, but the Italian could miss the rest of the season and that is almost certainly the case for Dejan Kulusevski, who has targeted a place in Sweden’s World Cup squad despite making no appearances in 12 months after a right patella injury.
“For me it is difficult to understand how he can play the World Cup if he didn’t play any game this season, but I texted him after (Aston Villa),” De Zerbi said.
“He told me the next week I think he will come back (in the country) and I hope he can be available to stay with us (to watch) in the last game because he’s an amazing player.”
