Conor Gallagher reveals how Roberto De Zerbi is lifting relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur - 'It’s starting to show on the pitch'

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Conor Gallagher delved into the "little things" new head coach Roberto De Zerbi has done to restore confidence in Spurs' squad.

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De Zerbi has been tasked with saving Spurs from Premier League relegation, having succeeded Igor Tudor in the dugout with the club in a precarious position, now two points from safety with four matches remaining.

After opening his tenure with a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, De Zerbi's side were denied a seismic victory against Brighton & Hove Albion by a last-gasp Georginio Rutter equaliser before displaying battling qualities in their 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers - their first victory in the league since the turn of the year.

The last two performances have offered Spurs fans optimism that they can escape the drop, and speaking to TNT Sports ahead of their trip to Aston Villa on Sunday evening - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - midfielder Gallagher explained how De Zerbi has sought to individually lift the players in the squad.

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"He’s been brilliant, to be honest," Gallagher said. "Everything about what he’s done has been really good.

"In terms of man-to-man management, trying to get the best out of everyone individually, and also trying to help everyone as a team, how he wants to play, how we can play the best football we can, and have that chemistry back between us.

"He’s been really big on trying to get everyone’s confidence back individually, and I think that’s been great for me, for the period I was in.

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"I think it’s helped me as well, so I’m really happy, and I know the lads are really happy with him being here."

Asked exactly how De Zerbi has attempted to restore the confidence of the players, Gallagher replied: "Just a lot of little things.

"He’ll have a lot of one-to-one meetings, he’ll say things to you that will make you feel good. He’ll mention things that happened in the past, when you was playing really well, and he’s making everyone remember how good we can be.

"Everyone’s confidence has been really low, obviously that’s why we are where we are. So I think that’s been really good. And it’s starting to show a bit on the pitch as well."

With West Ham United - who sit two points above Spurs - travelling to Brentford on Saturday, De Zerbi's side could be five points adrift - or in contention to leapfrog their rivals - before kick-off time at Villa Park.

And should Spurs fall further behind their relegation-threatened counterparts in the West Midlands, they will only have three more opportunities to avoid an unprecedented demotion to the Championship.

Gallagher candidly reflected on the position of himself and his team-mates.

"It’s a really tough moment, to be honest," he said. "It’s a lot of pressure. But everyone is 100% up for the challenge.

"All of us are in this position because of us, we’re the players. I think we’ve got enough, and we’re a good enough group to get out of this.

"I’m really looking forward to the next game to give my all, everyone is just really hopeful, to give the best for the fans and the club."

'We need people with value - with blood, not water'

Avoiding relegation is not a typical primary objective for De Zerbi, who excelled in taking Brighton and Olympique Marseille to Europe in his prior roles.

But he appears to know what it takes to get his side out of their tumultuous situation, and spoke of the characters needed in order to beat the drop.

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"To play football, to win the game, you have to find the balance between football: style of play, organisation of play, tactical disposition, all these characteristics, and the human part," De Zerbi told TNT Sports.

"The human part is crucial in every walk of life, especially in this moment, when we are in the tough moment.

"We need something more than players, we need people with value, with blood, not water. The right spirit, and to keep playing, fighting until the end of the season - not before, for sure."

Gallagher hails Kinsky after Wolves heroics

Gallagher also had words of praise for Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky, who came up with a vital save in the 1-0 win over Wolves to preserve all three points for his side.

Kinsky has returned between the sticks for Spurs for all three of De Zerbi's matches in charge, following on from his 17-minute appearance against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League which saw him substituted after shipping three early goals.

While Gallagher credited the 23-year-old for the manner in which he has returned to the team, he also said he was not surprised to see it.

"He's a top lad, I actually really get along with him, and obviously it was really sad to see," Gallagher said. "Whatever happened, happened in Madrid, and it can happen to anyone.

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"He had really bad luck that day, and I felt really sorry for him, but I knew, I knew that he was going to come back from, from that game, and and come back stronger for it, because he's mentally really good, and he's really determined.

"He works so hard. He's in the gym all day every day trying to better himself, so I'm really pleased for him, and he deserves it."

Kinsky is expected to remain in net for Spurs, with Guglielmo Vicario "not available yet" to make a return from injury.

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