Wetin dey happen for Tottenham Hotspur no be small matter o. The club just announce say Roberto De Zerbi don agree to become their new head coach. But as dem dey celebrate for one side, plenty fans dey vex for the other side. The gist na say De Zerbi go sign five-year deal to replace Igor Tudor wey just leave after only 44 days for the job.
But why fans dey vex like this? The matter reach ground when De Zerbi talk about Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United player wey face serious allegations before. For November last year, De Zerbi say Greenwood “paid in a strong way” for wetin happen and call am “good lad.” This one no sit well with many Tottenham supporters.
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust hold emergency meeting on Monday night. Dem write letter to the club management to express their concerns. Tristan Foot, the Trust secretary, tell BBC Sport say dem don collect complaints from supporters and don forward am to the club. “We think that our club should reassert values of equality and respect,” Foot yarn. “This appointment, out of many that they could have made, seems to be the one that could fly in the face of that.”
Women of the Lane, one official fans group for women supporters, join the protest. Alli Speechly, co-founder of the group, talk say she no go attend matches again if dem appoint De Zerbi. “I don’t want him anywhere near my football club,” she talk with strong voice. “This is about how we feel, this is about values, this is about integrity and, ultimately, it’s about safety.”
Other groups like Proud Lillywhites (the LGBTQI+ Supporters’ Association) and SpursREACH (for fans from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds) don also voice their concerns across social media. The matter don cause serious wahala for the club wey already dey struggle for Premier League survival.
Club sources talk say dem consider De Zerbi’s comments on Greenwood as part of the appointment process. But still, dem go ahead with the deal. De Zerbi go become one of the highest-paid managers for English football, even as Tottenham dey sit 17th for table with just one point above relegation zone.
The Italian coach first game go be against Sunderland on 12 April. After that, im go face im former club Brighton for im first home match. The pressure dey real because Tottenham never win any league match since January this year.
De Zerbi initially prefer to wait until summer before taking the job, but Tottenham board insist say dem no want another interim manager after Tudor’s chaotic reign. The club don try four different managers for the last ten months – Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor, and now De Zerbi.
For Marseille where De Zerbi and Greenwood work together, the transfer of Greenwood cause controversy. Benoit Payan, the mayor of Marseille, talk say signing Greenwood na “unacceptable” and say im no want the club “to be covered in shame.” But still, Marseille go ahead with the signing.
Greenwood don score 47 times in 74 appearances for Marseille across all competitions. Last season, im and Paris St-Germain‘s Ousmane Dembele share Ligue 1 top scorer position with 21 goals each.
This no be the first time Tottenham face opposition to managerial appointment. For June 2021, after Jose Mourinho leave, Spurs link with Gennaro Gattuso. Fans protest against am because of controversial comments wey Gattuso make about same sex marriage and women in football. Tottenham eventually back away from that appointment.
Now, De Zerbi face similar challenge. The Italian coach get reputation for progressive entertaining football, but im first priority must be to ensure say Spurs dey play for top flight next season. If dem relegate, De Zerbi no get relegation clause wey go allow am walk away – im go remain with the club.
As the club dey fight to preserve their Premier League status with just seven games remain, the new manager go need to win over both the dressing room and the fans wey already dey against am from day one. The battle for survival dey both on and off the pitch.
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