After the Manchester United game, Roberto De Zerbi admitted that for the first time this season, he saw his players perform as a unit rather than as a bunch of individuals.

With Tottenham Hotspur having a nine-day break between their matches against their 1-1 draw with Manchester United and Coventry City, Roberto De Zerbi decided to take the squad to Marbella, Spain, for team bonding and warm weather training. The Italian boss insisted that the trip is not only vital in terms of training as a group, but also in bringing the players closer off the pitch and making the squad a cohesive unit.

Spurs fans will be hoping the short Marbella trip has a galvanising effect on the squad heading into the home game against Coventry City.

Roberto De Zerbi urges his team to take responsibility

Tottenham have a dreadful record at home over the past couple of years, something Roberto De Zerbi must drastically improve. Their next visitors are Coventry City, who head to N17 after back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

Ahead of the game, De Zerbi admitted that it is important for his team to take responsibility and show character from the start to get a positive result on Monday.

“No, no. More about the players, each other. I’m a coach, I take responsibility, but the responsibilities are of everybody. From the boss until the players. They have to feel to be a team,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference (h/t Football London).

“I think in Manchester, especially in the toughest moments, after the red card, we show we have character. So, we have to show character from the beginning. At home, with our fans. Because if we want, we can change the history of this season and the last season as well.”

Coventry City feels like a must-win game for De Zerbi

Premier League great Alan Shearer has warned De Zerbi that Tottenham could find themselves in another relegation battle if they fail to beat Coventry at home.

The Lilywhites have dropped to the bottom of the table after Saturday’s results, and yet another draw or loss will be catastrophic for De Zerbi. It will hugely affect the players’ spirits and confidence levels and leave the North Londoners rock-bottom in the table for at least another week.

A win might prove to be a catalyst and turn their season around, which is why De Zerbi needs the three points desperately against Frank Lampard’s side.