Roberto De Zerbi is facing fierce criticism from multiple directions after a turbulent start to life as Tottenham Hotspur manager in 2026.
The Italian has come under intense scrutiny following Spurs’ 0-0 draw against Everton, a result that left the home supporters booing their own team at full time.
After four Premier League games, Tottenham sit just above the relegation zone with only two points to their name, a deeply concerning return for a club with top-four ambitions.
De Zerbi sparked controversy by making sarcastic comments about Serie A in the aftermath of the Everton stalemate, drawing widespread attention and criticism from across Europe.
The backlash has now extended to France, where former international Christophe Dugarry has weighed in with a particularly scathing assessment of the Spurs boss.
Dugarry, who observed De Zerbi closely during the Italian’s time at Marseille, spoke candidly to RMC about his concerns over the manager’s behaviour and methods.
The former French striker did not hold back, accusing De Zerbi of landing an extraordinary deal at Tottenham despite the evidence on the pitch so far this season.
Dugarry suggested the manager has taken advantage of the club, stating bluntly that he has pulled off a heist by securing a five-year contract at Spurs.
The criticism did not stop there, with Dugarry also taking direct aim at the way De Zerbi has handled young French forward Mathys Tel during matches.
“I can’t even talk about him as a coach… During the match, I saw him, he went after Mathys Tel on the pitch,” Dugarry said in his RMC interview.
He added: “The statements he made about this guy and that, he’s completely out of it,” painting a damning picture of De Zerbi’s touchline conduct.
The treatment of Tel has particularly struck a nerve, with the young forward’s development now a focal point of the debate surrounding De Zerbi’s management approach.
Dugarry’s intervention is significant given his firsthand experience of watching De Zerbi operate at Marseille before the Italian moved to north London.
Tottenham supporters are already growing restless, and the booing at full time against Everton underlined the fragile atmosphere building around the club this season.
De Zerbi arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s most progressive tactical minds, but results so far have done little to back up that billing at Spurs.
With pressure mounting rapidly and criticism coming from both England and France, the Italian will need to produce results quickly to silence the growing chorus of doubt.
